Cathedral Square Receives $450k from M&T Bank's Amplify Fund to Support SASH for All

SOUTH BURLINGTON, VT – The M&T Charitable Foundation, the philanthropic arm of M&T Bank (NYSE:MTB), announced this week that it has awarded $450,000 to Cathedral Square to support the SASH® (Support and Services at Home) for All pilot. The grant is part of the second round of giving through the Amplify Fund providing more than $8.2 million to 68 lead nonprofit organizations throughout New England, Long Island, and Rockland County, NY.

“We are so grateful to the M&T Charitable Foundation for recognizing the potential impact of the SASH for All pilot and for supporting this innovation,” shared SASH Director Liz Genge. “SASH has been improving health outcomes for older adults across the state since 2012. Now we’re bringing this model to people earlier in their lives. Not only are we providing them with immediate support, but we’re empowering them with the tools they need for better health throughout their lives.”

Now in its second year, the SASH for All pilot is bringing SASH programs and resources to families and individuals living in affordable housing communities in Brattleboro and Putney, in collaboration with Brattleboro Housing Partnerships and the Windham & Windsor Housing Trust. The SASH for All staff work with participants to assess their health and wellness needs, connect them with resources and help them meet self-defined goals. There are 153 residents currently taking part in the pilot, with 80 participants and 73 children receiving referrals for financial assistance, mental health support, food assistance, housing assistance, and health education.

“Through the Amplify Fund, we are committed to continuing our partnership with organizations like Cathedral Square that work hand-in-hand with community members in the field to provide the critical resources and programming necessary to truly make a difference,” said Dominique Goss, Executive Director of the M&T Charitable Foundation. “At M&T, addressing the institutionalized and systemic issues preventing disadvantaged communities from accessing opportunities and achieving long-term success is key to our mission as a community bank. We are proud to provide the Amplify Fund as a difference-making resource in the communities we serve.”

First announced in May 2022, the Amplify Fund is a $25 million philanthropic investment as part of the merger between People’s United Bank and M&T Bank. Powered by the M&T Charitable Foundation, the Amplify Fund is a one-time supplemental charitable program to provide further support in the legacy People's United communities. The first round of funding totaled more than $11.8 million to 105 nonprofit organizations and focused on equity and environmental initiatives, mission-driven and capacity-building work, community and tenant organizing, and financial empowerment and education for individuals and small businesses.

Phase II of the Amplify Fund focused on providing funding, for up to three years, to nonprofit collaboratives working together toward a common goal for solving a specific social issue, to help advance equity in the following key areas of focus:

Family Stability: Affordable housing, food security, and access to quality and affordable childcare.
Income & Wealth Equity: Employment, small business development, homeownership, and financial empowerment initiatives.
Workforce Development: Education and training opportunities focused on upskilling and career pathways in high-growth sectors leading to economic prosperity.
Health Equity: Access to quality and affordable healthcare, with a priority on youth mental health and women and infant health.

The Amplify Fund is designed to drive sustainable impact that is equitable, accessible, and responsive to local needs. Regional representatives of the bank will continue to meet with local leaders to help inform the strategic direction for the Fund’s third round.

For more information on the Amplify Fund, including the full list of grant recipients in New England and Metro New York, please visit the Amplify Fund website.

About M&T Charitable Foundation

The M&T Charitable Foundation, the philanthropic arm of M&T Bank, is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit charitable organization founded in 1993 and funded by M&T Bank. The M&T Charitable Foundation awards nearly $40 million in grants per year to thousands of nonprofit organizations focused on improving the quality of life in the areas the bank serves. M&T Bank Corporation is a financial holding company headquartered in Buffalo, New York. M&T's principal banking subsidiary, M&T Bank, provides banking products and services in 12 states across the eastern U.S. from Maine to Virginia and Washington, D.C. Trust-related services are provided in select markets in the U.S. and abroad by M&T's Wilmington Trust-affiliated companies and by M&T Bank. For more information on M&T Bank, visit www.mtb.com.

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