CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, October 7, 2004…East Cambridge Savings Charitable Foundation donates $5,000 to HomeStart, Inc. The funds will help maintain and enhance HomeStart’s operations in addressing Cambridge’s homeless population, specifically through its housing search and placement program.

Arthur C. Spears (center), president & CEO, East Cambridge Savings Bank and Susan Lapierre (far right), vice president community relations, East Cambridge Savings Charitable Foundation present donation from East Cambridge Savings Charitable Foundation to Beth Eilers (left), program director and Naomi Sweitzer (2nd from right), assistant executive director, HomeStart, Inc. (Photo credits - ECSB staff)

In recognition of the Bank’s 150th Anniversary, the East Cambridge Savings Bank’s Board presented a commemorative gift of “affordable housing funds” to the East Cambridge Savings Charitable Foundation. Arthur C. Spears, president and chief executive officer of East Cambridge Savings Bank, states, “HomeStart provides vital services to members of our community and we are pleased to provide them with this donation from the East Cambridge Savings Charitable Foundation.”

“At HomeStart, we keep our eye on the prize . . . every American deserves a safe, decent, affordable place to call home and that homelessness becomes a mistake of the past. Housing is the answer to homelessness. We are grateful for the gift from the East Cambridge Savings Charitable Foundation in support of our efforts to help homeless adults in Cambridge move to their own apartments. In these times of scarce funding and high rents, their donation will open the door to a new home and a new life for our homeless neighbor,” said HomeStart’s Assistant Executive Director Naomi Sweitzer. HomeStart’s mission is to end homelessness by assisting individuals in obtaining permanent housing and settling into the community, and by developing strategies to address systemic barriers to housing placement.

East Cambridge Savings Bank, a mutual savings bank established by Massachusetts charter in 1854, has full-service locations in Cambridge, Belmont, Somerville and Waltham, and maintains an Educational Training Facility at Cambridge Rindge and Latin School. The Bank is observing its 150th anniversary this year.

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