SKOWHEGAN, Maine - Skowhegan Savings Charitable Foundation today announced it has donated $10,000 to Jobs for Maineā€™s Graduates (JMG), a statewide non-profit organization dedicated to helping local high school and middle school students who face barriers to education find success, a meaningful career, and a productive adulthood. The donation will support JMG's core financial literacy program currently offered at 64 Maine schools.

Specifically, the donation from Skowhegan Savings Bank will be directed to JMG's financial literacy programs at seven schools located in the communities the bank serves. These include: Mt. Blue High School, Carrabec High School, Carrabec Community School, Messalonskee High School (2 programs), Madison Memorial High School, Maine Central Institute and Warsaw Middle School.  

"We are thrilled that Skowhegan Savings Bank has chosen to award us with this generous grant," said Craig Larrabee, President and CEO of JMG. "But, financial support is just a small part of what the Bank does for young people in their area. Skowhegan Savings has partnered with JMG to develop a financial literacy fair for three years in a row; they support our financial literacy lessons in the classroom; and have helped us increase the number of students we serve in central Maine. Their investment in young people in their community is unparalleled." 

JMG and Skowhegan Savings Bank have been partners for seven years and collaborated on a number of initiatives to help young people. In 2012, Skowhegan Savings Bank partnered with JMG to host the first-ever financial literacy fair for seniors at Skowhegan Area High School. It featured real-world hands on activities such as balancing a budget and saving. The fair took place again this year at Skowhegan Area High School on April 17th. To date, Skowhegan Savings Bank through its Charitable Foundation has contributed almost $37,000 to support JMG initiatives in the local area. In turn, JMG has recognized Skowhegan Savings Bank for that support, nominating the bank last year for the national organization's Corporate Above and Beyond Award, which the bank received.

"JMG is such an incredible organization and their programs are an important resource for Maine's schools," said John Witherspoon, Skowhegan Savings President & CEO. "What they do makes a big difference in the lives of these students; it really helps them realize their potential while simultaneously giving them the confidence to reach it. We are proud to be a part of it."

From left to right: Vicki Alward, Skowhegan Savings SVP Retail Banking; Craig Larrabee, Job's for Maine's Graduates President & CEO; Karen Hart, Skowhegan Savings Branch Manager