Building Community Through Recovery

Kennebunk Savings has always made giving back to our communities a priority. A mutual bank since 1871, we've never strayed from the vision that we can all thrive together. In 1994 we gave shape to that support with the launch of our Community Promise program, pledging to annually donate 10% of our net profits to nonprofit organizations bettering the community. Out of that commitment grew our Spotlight Fund, which sought to proactively address specific issues affecting our communities. The Fund provides direct community impact by making strategic donations, advocating for subject causes and taking an active role in the creation of innovative programs to meet critical needs. In 2018 we began using our Spotlight Fund to 'shine a light' on substance use disorder (SUD) through philanthropy, advocacy, education and action in the communities we call home. We engaged subject matter experts to learn about SUDs and how we could make an impact. We partnered with nonprofits, healthcare, officials from Maine and New Hampshire, and local police to help provide vital resources, expand access to services and educate the community, our employees, and customers. On our website (www.kennebunksavings.com/about/community-promise/spotlight-fund) you'll find videos featuring the efforts of a few of our nonprofit partners working to address SUD, highlights from a community forum we held to engage other businesses, and a social media education campaign, including information on our work to become a Recovery Friendly Workplace. This initiative has, we believe, been transformative both inside and outside our organization in terms of reducing stigma surrounding addiction, fostering understanding and most importantly, getting help where it is needed. We are a mutual bank and it is in our DNA to meet the needs of our community.