A Middle Village-based branch of TD Bank recently donated money to two area Catholic schools, as an ongoing part of its Affinity Program community initiative.
Principals, clergy members and students from the schools met at the branch, located at 79-55 Metropolitan Avenue, on Wednesday, April 21, to meet with bank representatives and receive their checks.
Our Lady of Hope School received $3,300, which it will use to purchase smart boards.
“This is part of a three year partnership we’ve had with TD Bank, and it has proven to be a wonderful experience. They have been extremely supportive,” said Michele Krebs, principal of Our Lady of Hope. “These donations provide additional money for us to supplement our various education needs and programs.”
St. Margaret School was awarded $2,700, which it plans to use to buy additional technology, including digital cameras.
“We’re able to, with the revenue, really build up our technology. It’s an opportunity for students to get involved and to learn about community involvement,” said St. Margaret’s Principal Sr. Rena Perrone, OP.
The money was awarded as part of TD Bank’s Affinity Program. In this program, people who do business with TD in any capacity attach a code to their account, which identifies them as a member of an area school. Once 50 households are enrolled with TD, the school becomes eligible to receive a donation.
According to the bank, the Affinity Program helps nonprofit organizations raise money by receiving an annual contribution based on the average deposit balance of the accounts attached to the organization.
“There are many schools involved in this program, including Catholic schools, public schools, high schools, but these are the two most active,” said Branch Manager Angelo Russo, who added that both had far more than the 50 required accounts.
Also at the event was Nunzio Russo, President of the Maspeth Kiwanis, who awarded prizes to the winners of its essay contest.
Sixth-grader Kyle Lawless and seventh-grader Tina Dantono of St. Margaret’s were awarded money for their essay on eating properly.
“I was surprised. I worked really hard but I thought that someone else’s essay would be picked over mine,” said a modest Dantono.
Our Lady of Hope sixth-grader Niamh Girdusky and eighth-grader Matthew Dolan were also awarded money for their essays.
“We wanted to help kids and the big problem nowadays is that literacy abilities are not good,” said Russo.
