Watertown Savings Asks: Who's Your Favorite Group?

Watertown Savings Bank customers have an opportunity to vote for their favorite local, non-profit organization in the bank’s 16th annual Customer Choice Awards.

Each year, the bank sets aside $50,000 that is distributed according to the voting results. Every qualified non-profit that earns at least one percent of the total votes received is awarded funds.

To qualify the organization must serve the local community in some way and have 501c(3) status. Religious and political organizations are ineligible although charitable organizations within a church community are eligible.

Anyone with a Watertown Savings Bank account can vote and every customer gets one vote.

Bank customers can go to the watertownsavings.com homepage to cast their vote. The online voting system lists several different organizations from each of the six towns where there are bank branches including at 30 Church St. in Belmont. There is also a place to “write-in” an organization’s name, if it is not already listed.

The deadline to vote is Saturday, Jan. 14, 2012. Those without access to a computer can pick up paper ballots at any WSB branch location. The maximum amount distributed to any one organization is $2,500.

Funds are distributed at an awards ceremony held each year in March. For further information please call 617-928-2336.