Eastern Bank names Lynn's KIPP, Girls Inc. 'Quarterbacks'

LYNN - Now in its fourth year of donating to schools, community programs and non-profit organizations through its "Community Quarterbacks" program, the Eastern Bank Charitable Foundation chose two Lynn organizations as recipients of grant money in 2008.

The KIPP Academy Lynn charter school and Girls Incorporated of Lynn will each receive a portion of the $1 million in total grant money donated this month to over 60 Eastern Massachusetts community organizations, the foundation announced this week.

The city's only charter school, KIPP will receive a $10,000 payout from the bank that it will use for a variety of needs, most importantly, continuing to provide its "more time" extended day program, which has aided in the success of students both in the classroom and on state-issued MCAS tests. Students at KIPP attend school 10 hours every day, as opposed to the 6-7 hours averaged at the city's public schools, which allows for a more comprehensive study of each subject and a greater opportunity for students to meet individually with teachers and participate in school-sponsored programs and activities.

"What makes KIPP successful is that our kids get two hours of math, two hours of English, and one hour each of science and social studies as well as two additional hours to seek extra tutoring and electives," said KIPP Program Director Nancy Sarles. "We will use this money to help continue that success, and for some of our other programs as well."

The school will also use some of the additional funding to help with its incentive-based end of the year field trips to Utah, Washington, D.C. and California, along with local field trips and class projects throughout the school year.

Parents do not pay tuition to attend the school, which relies on private donations of both money and services, such as assemblies and guest speakers, to continue operation.

For Girls Incorporated, the foundation's $50,000 award could not have come at a better time, as it is in the process of renovating the former Shoe School at 50 High St. into its new headquarters.

The two-phase $7.9 million capitol project is more than halfway completed, with the first phase of renovation finished. The organization is still $2.9 million short on funding for the second phase of the project, however, which will bring a 15,000 square-foot addition to the rear portion of the former high school.

Girls Incorporated Director of Development Joan Lawrence said the $50,000 payout from Eastern Bank would go to fund that portion of the project, and the organization's newsletter announced an additional $1.2 million in anonymous donations made earlier this year that will also go toward funding the addition.

This is the second pledge that Eastern Bank has made to Girls Incorporated of Lynn, as it offered a $35,000 donation to the organization last year, which also went in to the renovation of the High Street school.

Eastern Bank presented the awards, along with six surprise donations of $10,000 each to youth violence programs in the Boston area, during a recent ceremony at the Boston-based Citizen Schools headquarters.

The ceremony featured Eastern Bank CEO Richard E. Holbrook and former Patriots and Boston College quarterback Dough Flutie, along with about 100 guests and representatives from the 61 award recipients.

"Massachusetts is a great place to work and live," said Holbrook. "There are many reasons for its excellence, and among them is the work being done by outstanding organizations and people. It is my pleasure to recognize and reward the dedication to improving the quality of life in our communities."

The primary focus of the Eastern Bank Charitable Foundation is to support local organizations that provide basic human services to residents of Eastern Massachusetts. The 2008 grants are added to the nearly $3 million in charitable donations made by the bank in the last two years as part of the Community Quarterback program.

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