Rollstone Bank & Trust Charitable Foundation Awards $41,000 in Grants to 10 Community Organizations

Grants support arts and culture, human services, education and community initiatives across North Central Massachusetts

The Rollstone Bank & Trust Charitable Foundation today announced $41,000 in grants to 10 nonprofit and community organizations serving Fitchburg and the surrounding North Central Massachusetts region. The grants, approved by the Foundation, support operating expenses, scholarships, membership commitments and local community initiatives.

As a mutual bank, Rollstone Bank & Trust is owned not by outside shareholders but by its depositors and the communities it serves. That structure allows the Bank to reinvest more of its earnings directly back into those communities, in both charitable dollars and employee volunteer hours, support made possible by the customers who choose to bank here.

The grants reflect a broad range of community priorities, from arts and cultural support at the Fitchburg Art Museum and the Montachusett Chorale to human services funding at North Star Family Services, Ginny's Helping Hand and Care Net PRC. Additional grants support a scholarship at North Middlesex High School, environmental work at the Nashua River Watershed Association and the Greater Lowell Community Foundation's Twin Cities Rail Trail project, housing support through Habitat for Humanity North Central MA, and the Mayor's Energy Fund, which helps Fitchburg residents with energy costs.

"These grants reflect what makes North Central Massachusetts strong, from the artists and musicians who enrich our cultural life to the families and students who rely on organizations like North Star Family Services and North Middlesex High School," said Mary Beth Jokela, President and CEO of Rollstone Bank & Trust. "Supporting this community isn't separate from our work as a bank, it's central to it, and we're proud to stand behind the organizations doing this work every day."

• At the Fitchburg Art Museum, Rollstone Bank & Trust's Patron-level membership supports the museum's exhibitions, educational programming and community partnerships, and includes sponsored free admission for the public. The Montachusett Chorale donates all of its concert proceeds to local charitable organizations and has raised more than $155,000 for the community since its founding; the Foundation's support helps cover the costs of producing those fundraising concerts.
• In human services, North Star Family Services has served families experiencing homelessness across North Central Massachusetts since 2003. The organization operates Journey Home, a 15-unit supportive housing community in Leominster. Rollstone Bank & Trust has supported North Star for more than a decade, including helping lead the capital campaign that made Journey Home possible. Ginny's Helping Hand, founded by Ginny White in 1978, operates a food pantry and thrift store that served more than 53,000 guests in 2024; the Foundation's unrestricted grant supports increased demand for services and support. Care Net PRC, a licensed medical clinic serving Fitchburg since 1976, provides free pregnancy testing, ultrasounds and counseling to women, men and families navigating unplanned pregnancies.
• The North Middlesex High School scholarship supports the Joe Ruth Memorial Scholarship Games, established by the school's baseball program in honor of longtime coach Joseph "Joe" Ruth, who spent nearly five decades as a fixture of Central Massachusetts baseball. Ruth also worked at Rollstone Bank & Trust for 17 years, rising to senior vice president before retiring in 2020, giving the Bank a personal connection to the games and the scholarships they fund for graduating student-athletes.
• Environmental grants support the Nashua River Watershed Association, which has worked since 1969 to protect water resources across 32 communities in North Central Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire and has helped permanently protect more than 174 miles of riverfront, and the Greater Lowell Community Foundation's Twin Cities Rail Trail Fund, which maintains the 4.5-mile paved trail connecting downtown Fitchburg and Leominster.
• Habitat for Humanity North Central MA, which has served the region since 1988 and has helped build or rehabilitate homes for 47 local families, will use its grant to support homebuilding, critical home repairs and affordable homeownership programs. The Mayor's Energy Fund, established in 2023 to help income-qualified Fitchburg residents manage rising heating and utility costs, will use the Foundation's contribution to provide additional relief to local households this winter.

Established in 2005, the Rollstone Charitable Foundation distributes over $200,000 annually to organizations across North Central Massachusetts. The Foundation focuses on critical local issues including homelessness, food insecurity, healthcare access and educational and cultural enrichment, reflecting Rollstone Bank & Trust's ongoing commitment to community engagement and volunteerism.

The Foundation's grantmaking is part of a broader commitment to community carried out by Rollstone Bank & Trust and its affiliated banks, Newburyport Bank and Pentucket Bank, together known as River Run. In 2025, River Run banks contributed over $1.6 million in donations and grants, and employees volunteered nearly 8,162 hours in service to 562 organizations across the region.

About Rollstone Bank & Trust
Founded in 1846, Rollstone Bank & Trust is a trusted community banking partner committed to strengthening the financial well-being of individuals, families, and businesses throughout North Central Massachusetts. Headquartered in Fitchburg, MA, the Bank provides a full range of personal and business banking services through multiple community banking locations. Guided by a long-standing tradition of service, relationships, and local investment, Rollstone Bank & Trust is dedicated to helping communities thrive. Alongside Newburyport Bank and Pentucket Bank, Rollstone Bank & Trust is supported by River Run Bancorp, MHC. With collective assets of $3.6 billion, River Run ensures shared strength and resources in support of our banks and the communities they serve.