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Leominster Credit Union (LCU) announces they have hired Michael Hawkes, Vice President of Commercial Lending.

Hawkes’ 25 years of banking experience positions him well to lead and grow Leominster Credit Union’s commercial lending portfolio. Hawkes will report to Craig Madonia, Senior Vice President, Lending.

Hawkes advanced lending experience, coupled with his desire to help others achieve their financial goals, supports LCU’s commitment to assist our members’ commercial lending needs.  In his career, he has held roles in all areas of lending including Credit Analyst, Portfolio Manager, and Relationship Manager.  In these roles, he has successfully assisted small and large businesses secure a variety of commercial loans.

Hawkes is a graduate of Babson College located in Wellesley, MA. Prior to joining LCU, Michael was the Vice President, Commercial Loan Officer at Franklin Savings Bank.

“We know Michael will make a positive impact for our members and future members and we are excited to have him join the LCU team,” stated Craig Madonia, SVP, Lending, Leominster Credit Union.

It takes a REAL community.

Clinton, MA – August 2023 – Wednesday afternoon on August 9^th an enthusiastic crowd gathered outside the Clinton Branch of Leominster Credit Union (LCU). They were there to demonstrate their appreciation for LCU’s support of the REAL Mentors girls’ program in Clinton.

John Reedy, a board member of both LCU and R.E.AL. Youth Connections, Inc. (RYC), said, “LCU’s continued support of the REAL Mentors Program is something we all greatly appreciate. So, we came to their front door in Clinton to thank them.”

Barbara Mahoney, President and CEO of LCU, presented a $5000 check to support RYC’s REAL Mentors Program. On hand to receive the check were Mary-Sarah Loosemore, director of girls’ programs, and mentees Ada Maris Revera and Kelcie Fuller. Mentors and members from RYC, along with staff and several Board Members from LCU, were also in attendance to acknowledge LCU’s generous contribution and community support.

Speaking at the presentation, Barbara Mahoney, President & CEO of LCU said “We regularly look for opportunities to assist programs and initiatives within our communities as they carry out their mission. We were very excited to contribute to the REAL Mentors program and support the great work they do with local youth. People Helping People is the credit union motto, and we embrace this philosophy in giving back to those we serve.”

The REAL Mentors Program provides after-school group mentorship programs for middle school girls and boys. During the school year, mentors and students meet once a week. The aim is to create positive and lasting connections between peers, mentors, and the greater community. The boys’ program in Clinton was started in 2017. Then, in 2021, the girls’ program was added and has continued to grow with the support of LCU.

Navigating the early teen years for many students can be trying at best. Having access to caring and supportive mentors, willing to listen without judgment and sharing their own experience, can help make the student’s trek a little less rocky.

Mary-Sarah, who also spoke at the presentation, said, “As we continue to grow these mentoring programs, a donation like this is so important to help us with all the activities we wish to do. LCU has made the dream of broadening our programs more of a reality, and we are so grateful.”

For more information on R.E.A.L. Youth Connections or the R.E.A.L. Mentors Program, email jake@ryconnections.org or visit our website at www.ryconnections.org

About the R.E.A.L. Mentors Program:

 The REAL Mentors Program for boys was initiated in May of 2011 at Tahanto Regional Middle/High School in Boylston, Massachusetts. School Psychologist, Jake Milano, designed the program in coordination with Mike Sanford, of Fathering Fathers, Inc. R.E.A.L. is an acronym for the programs’ core tenets of Respect, Engage, Acknowledge, and Listen. R.E.A.L. Youth Connections is a 501c(3).

 

Photo; Barbara Mahoney, President and CEO of LCU, presents check to Ada Maris Revera, mentee in the Clinton REAL Mentors girls’ program, as staff from LCU and R.E.A.L Youth Connections look on.

 

 

Leominster, MA – Second Chance Cars is a Massachusetts 501c3 corporation that provides refurbished, affordable cars to hard working veterans, returning citizens, refugees, and others, and in close collaboration with its generous car donors and nonprofit, corporate, and pro bono partners. The cars provided allow their new owners a chance to obtain living-wage jobs and the ability to achieve their full potential.

Leominster Credit Union is the first financial institution to donate a car to Second Chance Cars. After the car donation, Second Chance Cars worked with the Auto Body/Auto Tech instructors and students at Montachusett Regional Technical High School (Monty Tech) to refurbish it. The car was then awarded to Samantha, a 5-year Navy Veteran and single mother of four who needed it to get to her new job.

“Paying it forward and giving back has always been important to all of us at Leominster Credit Union and this was a great chance to do that. The car will give Samantha an opportunity that she may not have had without it. We are proud of our partnership with Second Chance Cars and Monty Tech,” stated Danielle Duval, AVP, Collections, Leominster Credit Union.

Second Chance Cars works closely with 15 social service agencies to help it select “car-ready” candidates and with a network of vocational schools and automotive specialists to help refurbish donated vehicles professionally and affordably.

“We are very excited about the partnership between Monty Tech, Leominster Credit Union, and Second Chance Cars. It’s a very humbling experience when our students get to experience the direct impact of their work and service to our surrounding communities,” expressed Dayana Carlson, Principal, Monty Tech.

“This has been a fantastic collaboration. I hope other credit unions will follow in the footsteps of the creative and generous team at Leominster Credit Union and help us get more people like Samantha to work” said Dan Holin, Executive Director, Second Chance Cars

For more information on Second Chance Cars, visit, secondchancecars.org/