Cornerstone Bank has pledged $20,000 to the Quinsigamond Community College (QCC) Foundation Inc. to continue and enhance its higher education offerings to Southbridge and surrounding communities. Cornerstone will donate $5,000 annually for four years, beginning in 2022.

“Since opening its Southbridge location in 2010, Quinsigamond has been the only brick-and-mortar higher education option in that town,” said Cornerstone Bank CEO Todd Tallman. “A significant poverty rate in Southbridge and limited mass transit services present significant barriers to residents seeking higher education. We are proud to help support the foundation’s efforts to ensure accessible and affordable educational opportunities to this community.”

QCC is a public higher education institution in Central Massachusetts providing postsecondary education and training to almost 8,000 students per year at its Worcester and Southbridge locations, regional satellites, and online. QCC students represent the communities they live and work in from first-generation, low-income college students, and racial and ethnic minorities, to full-time workers, non-native English speakers, parents, adult learners, and traditional-age college students.

“Our Southbridge location provides convenient and affordable college coursework to about 300 students each year and is expanding to include transitional early college coursework at no cost to students in partnership with Southbridge Public Schools,” said Linda Maykel, president of the QCC Foundation. “Cornerstone’s generosity will support our college programming and early college initiatives for local high school students, strengthening and increasing retention and completion in general education, certificate, and degree-specific courses.”

QCC Southbridge provides general education courses and some lab courses towards an associate degree or certificate and/or transfer to a bachelor’s degree at a state college or university. In addition, QCC Southbridge offers pre-college programming for high school students in person and remotely. Day, evening, and weekend classes have been available since September 2020 from the college’s location at Southbridge High School, giving students access to add non-credit workforce development coursework. Student support services are also provided, including advising, tutoring, accessibility, and career placement services.

Cornerstone Bank has been named as an honoree in the Boston Business Journal’s 2022 Corporate Citizenship Awards, a recognition of the region's top corporate charitable contributors. The Business Journal annually publishes this list to showcase companies that promote and prioritize giving back to their communities.

“We are honored to have been recognized for our charitable contributions throughout 2021,” said Cornerstone Bank CEO Todd Tallman. “Our giving efforts last year included nearly $400,000 in donations to local organizations such as the YMCA of Central Massachusetts, United Way, Family Health Center of Worcester, Worcester Community Action Council, UMass Memorial, Worcester County Food Bank and others, as well as 16 scholarships to graduating high school seniors.”

This year, only 95 companies qualified for the distinction by reporting at least $100,000 in contributions to Massachusetts-based charities last year. The honorees include companies from such industry sectors as financial and professional services, health care, technology, retail and professional sports.

“The past couple of years has presented companies and communities with many challenges, and their needs have continued to grow,” said Carolyn Jones, Boston Business Journal market president and publisher. “It is with honor that we present our list of the Top Charitable Contributors in Massachusetts. Collectively, they gave $322 million in cash contributions—a true example of the business community coming together to help those in need. We are proud to celebrate these organizations who give both money and time to make the greater Boston area a stronger and better place for all.”

Cornerstone Bank and other honorees will be celebrated at the Boston Business Journal’s 16th Annual Corporate Citizenship Awards on Thursday, September 8 at the Revere Hotel Boston Common.

“Giving back to our community is an important part of our foundation,” continued Tallman. “We take great pride in the help we can offer to our neighbors here in Central Massachusetts, especially when it comes to education and financial literacy. We are on track this year to continue this giving tradition, having already donated nearly $300,000 to local charities and organizations so far.”

A total of $40,000 was awarded to local graduates to assist with college expenses.

Cornerstone Bank is proud to announce the 16 recipients of their scholarship awards program for local high school graduates. Each chosen graduate is awarded $2,500 to assist with college expenses.

“Cornerstone Bank is proud to help students in our community reach their educational goals,” said Cornerstone Bank CEO Todd Tallman. “We want to foster the growth and development of the next generation of business and finance professionals, and congratulate these 16 exceptional students on their achievements, wishing them continued success.”

This is the list of the 2022 scholarship recipients along with the name of the school they plan to attend in the fall:

• Kiana Barnes of East Brookfield, Nichols College
• Emma Blomquist of Holden, University of Massachusetts, Isenberg School of Business
• Madeline Duke of Shrewsbury, Indiana University
• Hunter Goguen of Brookfield, Nichols College
• Alexis Goodney of Leicester, Bentley University
• Abigail Hill of Brimfield, Westfield State University
• Nhi Huynh of Worcester, Harvard College
• Brian Langevin of Sturbridge, University of Alabama
• Owyn Law of Dudley, Quinnipiac University
• Colin Minarik of Webster, Bentley University
• Samuel Murillo of Charlton, University of Massachusetts, Lowell
• Christopher Murzycki of Spencer, Worcester State University
• Arieta Nasto of Worcester, Villanova School of Business
• Brennan Ogert, Nichols College
• Lauren Potvin of Charlton, Worcester Academy
• Nina Zurawski of Charlton, Suffolk University

To be considered for a scholarship, each student had to:

• Be a 2022 high school graduate
• Anticipate being a full-time student at an accredited, degree-granting institution of higher education
• Anticipate studying in a business or financial field
• Demonstrate achievement and high standards in academics, extracurricular activities and community involvement
• Submit an official transcript and GPA from their guidance office
• Submit a one-page essay

Donation supports youth development programs and LIVESTRONG^® program

Cornerstone Bank has donated $25,000 to the YMCA of Central Massachusetts as part of the organization’s annual campaign. This donation will be used to underwrite youth development programs and services as well as the LIVESTRONG^® at the Y initiative.

“We are proud to continue our support of the wonderful services offered by the YMCA,” said Cornerstone Bank CEO Todd Tallman. “We are passionate about programs dedicated to helping local children, teens, and adults, an area in which the YMCA excels, and their LIVESTRONG^® program provides assistance to many people when they need it most.”

LIVESTRONG^® at the YMCA is a free 12-week small-group fitness program designed for adult cancer survivors seeking to regain health following treatment. Instructors and personal trainers have undergone specialized training in the areas of cancer, post-rehabilitation exercise, nutrition and supportive cancer care. The program includes:

• A free 12-week YMCA Family Membership
• Two 75-minute classes per week
• Full access to the YMCA seven days per week
• Free drop-off child watch

YMCA youth programs include college-preparedness, workforce, and leadership development, after-school care, summer camp and a host of healthy meals initiatives.

“From the earliest days of the pandemic, we maximized our resources and partnered with like-minded organizations – such as Cornerstone Bank – who remained committed to supporting the community. As families deal with the lingering effects of COVID-19, our work remains the highest priority,” said David Connell, President and CEO at the YMCA of Central Massachusetts. “With Cornerstone’s generosity, we continue to assist cancer survivors as they reclaim their health as well as address food insecurity, the educational gap, and quality and affordable childcare needed for parents to work.”

All branches accepting donations July 6–22

Cornerstone Bank, a community bank with 10 locations throughout Central Massachusetts, is holding a Stuff the Bus school supply drive July 6–22 at all their locations. All supplies collected will be donated to Our Bright Future, Inc., of Southbridge and Rainbow Child Development Center of Worcester for distribution to local children before the start of the next school year.

“Education is a top priority for us year-round, so we figured we would get a jump start on setting local children up for a great school year with this school supply drive,” said Todd Tallman, CEO of Cornerstone Bank. “Having access to tools as simple as pencils, paper, and backpacks can relieve so much stress for parents and their children. We hope this drive will help kids succeed in the upcoming school year and encourage everyone in our community to donate.”

Our Bright Future, Inc., is an after-school and summer program designed to empower youth through academics and athletics. Rainbow Child Development Center provides high-quality education and therapeutic services to at-risk children and their families.

The community is invited to donate school supplies such as pens, pencils, backpacks, notebooks, crayons, markers, folders, glue and more at Cornerstone Bank’s 10 locations in Charlton, Holden, Leicester, Rutland, Southbridge, Spencer, Sturbridge and Worcester.

Cornerstone Bank, a community bank with 10 locations throughout Central Massachusetts, has recently promoted Stacie Moulton to the role of vice president, compliance manager.

“Stacie is extremely knowledgeable and passionate about banking compliance and has demonstrated a mastery of the regulations, laws and protocols that help maintain our bank’s ability to provide high-quality financial services to our customers,” said Todd Tallman, CEO of Cornerstone Bank. “Stacie has taken on increasing responsibility throughout her tenure, and I couldn’t think of anyone more fitting for this role.”

After earning a bachelor’s degree in business management from Nichols College, Moulton, a resident of Spencer, began her banking career at SpencerBANK (now Cornerstone Bank) where she held multiple operational positions. Moulton then worked at Baystate Savings, eventually as compliance officer, before returning to SpencerBANK as a compliance manager. She was promoted in 2020 to an assistant vice president position.

“One of the best aspects about working at Cornerstone Bank is that everyone is dedicated to making a positive impact on the community by helping our neighbors achieve their financial goals,” Moulton said. “I am excited to start in my new position and I look forward to being able to use my expertise to benefit our bank and our customers.”

Cornerstone Bank, a community bank with 10 locations throughout Central Massachusetts, is pleased to announce that Michael J. Roy has been hired as senior vice president, chief risk officer. Roy is a successful industry leader who comes to Cornerstone with more than 25 years of experience in helping financial institutions manage risk and drive financial improvement. He will oversee the company’s governance and strategy for risk management and compliance, and protect the investments of stakeholders.

“We are very excited to welcome Michael to the team as our new chief risk officer,” said Cornerstone Bank CEO Todd Tallman. “Throughout his impressive career, he has shown a great aptitude for creating and implementing risk management plans, and we’re confident his success will continue as a leader in our organization.”

A Whitinsville native, Roy previously served as the regulatory compliance manager at Sheshunoff Consulting and has also held senior vice president positions at several other banking institutions. He has a bachelor’s degree in finance from Bryant University in Rhode Island and an MBA from Anna Maria College in Paxton.

“I look forward to growing with Cornerstone Bank, building upon the successes this institution has achieved,” said Roy. “Central Massachusetts has always been my home, and I’m excited to use my experience to provide protection for local stakeholders and the community as a whole.”