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35 B U S I N E S S P RO F I L E S B U S I N E S S P R O F I L E S S P E C I A L A D V E R T I S I N G S E C T I O N Good citizenship Today, serving the people of Central Maine, the Bank continues to embody that spirit of "good citizenship" through its core values — excellence in service, teamwork, and community. For Silsby and his team, these ideas are personal. A ninth- generation Mainer on his mother's side and seventh generation on his father's, he grew up a stone's throw from the Kennebec Savings Bank headquarters. "I care deeply about this community," he says. "We're focused on our own backyards and our own communities. As community bank- ers, we work and live here. For me, it means the world to be in these communities and to know that we had a hand in so many projects. Whether it's a loan to help a small business get off the ground, an expansion of an existing business, getting someone into their first home, or through the donation side of this institution, we've been able to help people and organizations accomplish their goals. is might sounds corny, but we're all about fulfilling people's dreams. People come in and they have an idea, but they might not know how to get from point A to point B. We work hard to make that happen. And the satisfaction of being able to help them is unbelievable." e Bank's employees are equally engaged. "ese are folks who care deeply about their community," Silsby continues. "ey're involved in raising money for various causes. We had a team of employees who did the Mutt Strut recently, out there with their dogs to raise money for the Kennebec Valley Humane Society and before that, the Walk for Hope for MaineGeneral." Key initiatives roughout its long history, one thing has remained constant — Kennebec Savings Bank's unwavering commitment to the communities it serves. As a mutually held savings bank, and as individual volunteers, the Bank takes pride in giving back in meaningful ways to the neighborhoods in which leadership and employees work and raise their families. Considering the size of Kennebec Savings Bank, the Bank makes up a considerable portion of overall philanthropy from Maine's banking industry. In recent years, the giving community has begun to focus on capacity-building — providing fledgling nonprofits and those looking to expand receive an influx of funds that allow them to broaden their impact. In keeping with that push, Kennebec Savings Bank's Community Dividends program focuses on local organizations, supporting more than 300 organizations in Kennebec County and the greater Freeport area. e Bank's online Community Dividends request portal allows you to log in at your convenience and manage your organization's requests for support. Once you create your profile, you can choose from a variety of applications, including: Donations and Sponsorship, Advertising Requests, and the Bank's Catalyst Grant. Many nonprofit organizations have creative concepts floating around that they might have set aside due to lack of funds. Kennebec Savings Bank helps bring those ideas to life. Each year, the Bank's Catalyst Grant program awards several $30,000 grants, over three years, to two local nonprofit organizations, to help them achieve their goals and build capacity. Among results achieved by grantees in recent years, the program has helped bring dental care to hundreds of youth, provided items to households in need, and served transportation needs in Kennebec and Somerset counties. e 2019 Catalyst Grant Applications will be accepted through Aug. 31, through the Kennebec Savings Bank website. "Community banking truly puts 'community' in banking," concludes Silsby. "e health of the community is paramount in our focus." l P H O T O B Y J E N N A P E D E R S O N Left: Kennebec Savings Bank employees support the MaineGeneral 2018 Walk for Hope. Below: Kennebec Savings Bank employees volunteer at the 2018 Chili Chowder Challenge Fundraiser. P H O T O B Y J E N N A P E D E R S O N

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