Patriot Bank Donates $40,000 of Furniture to Center for Family Justice

Patriot Bank, N.A. is helping the Center for Family Justice provide free, confidential services to thousands of domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse victims from across Bridgeport, Easton, Fairfield, Monroe, Stratford and Trumbull. The Bridgeport-based non-profit began as a YWCA in 1895 and today serves more than 8,500 individuals annually.

On April 4, the Center for Family Justice celebrated the grand opening of Connecticut’s only facility offering trauma-informed services and coordinated care under one roof (753 Fairfield Ave., Bridgeport), with furniture donated by Fairfield County-based Patriot Bank.

The facility is Connecticut’s first Family Justice Center and only one of three in New England. Some 30 local nonprofits will be housed there, including the State Department of Children and Families, LifeBridge, Triangle Community Center and The Workplace.

The donation for the 21,000-square-foot center will alleviate expenses of up to $40,000, the equivalent of providing services to over 735 victims of severe physical or sexual abuse, and will continue to serve the Center’s needs for many years to come.

At its recent Gratitude Gala, the Center for Family Justice acknowledged Patriot Bank and other business and community leaders who are contributing to its renovation, including Governor Dannel Malloy and his wife Cathy Malloy, who served as executive director at a rape crisis center for more than a decade. Ms. Malloy said the Center for Family Justice will be a model for Family Justice Centers throughout the state. The Malloys advocated for a $1.2 million state bond that helped underwrite the expansion.

The professional-grade office furnishings allow clients, nonprofit partners and service providers all new professional workspaces. Services including therapy, counseling, civil/legal attorneys, law enforcement guidance, professional development and professional help for victims from all six towns will be in one safe place, simplifying the process of offering help for thousands of victims.

“Patriot Bank believes in extending a helping hand to our neighbors. Patriot’s donation to the Center for Family Justice enables the facility to have a more comfortable and professional atmosphere from day one. The alleviated expenses will result in the Center being able to serve many more clients,” said Kenneth Neilson, Patriot Bank, N.A. President & CEO.

“Patriot Bank truly shows its commitment by doing, beginning with the communities it serves. The bank’s generous donation will allow the Justice Center to bring in more local partners, resources and services to simplify the process for victims, who may receive comprehensive care here in just one to two visits, versus having to go out to seven different organizations to see services they require,” said Debra Greenwood, the CEO of The Center for Family Justice, Inc. “Family Justice Centers save communities a lot of money and stop 30% of criminal cases we see in judicial centers. Most importantly, it saves lives.”

The newly renovated facility will feature a plaque acknowledging Patriot Bank, N.A. as a partner. The materials for the inscription are being donated by SIGNLite and the design will be donated by Spyglass Brand Marketing.

Photos:

• Center for Family Justice President/CEO Debra A. Greenwood seated at chair and desk donated by Patriot Bank

• Center for Family Justice President/CEO Debra A. Greenwood, seated at desk, meets with Child Advocate Sasha Collins and Prevention Educator Marlon Ramnanan. All furniture featured in this room was donated by Patriot Bank. pan>

About Patriot Bank, N.A.

Patriot Bank, N.A. is headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut and provides consumer and commercial banking services to individuals, government and nonprofit entities, small and medium-sized businesses and professionals. Patriot Bank currently operates 10 full service branches, 8 in Connecticut and 2 in New York. Patriot Bank was founded in 1994.