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locally committed, involved and invested," she said. "We bring non-profi ts to the table and have an honest conversation about their needs. We want to be involved in a meaningful way." Webster Bank concentrates on supporting organizations that provide fi nancial literacy and serve basic needs as well as health and human services agencies within the community. "This is where people live, work and do business. If their needs are met, we will all rise together," Luria said. Webster Bank's commitment to a new program, Feeding our Foodbanks, is a partnership with Feeding America chapters and is a prime example of how Webster helps to support effi ciency by investing in programs that are focused on identifying root causes while supporting locally where there is immediate need. "We fund all Feeding America organizations in our footprint and create opportunities for volunteer teams to engage in the work," Luria said. "We look at local organizations to make sure community needs are met." Another long-time partnership that has become its signature program is Webster Bank's relationship with Junior Achievement (JA). Ten years ago, the two organizations joined forces with a goal of building fi nancial literacy and economic stability. "As a fi nancial institution, Webster Bank believes people need to be fi nancially fi t to thrive and have the best opportunities in life," Luria said. "We are not just writing a check and making grants, but we also invest banker time and expertise to become involved and to reinforce the learning. We are fostering fi nancial literacy to create more fruitful, fulfi lling lives." Jeremy Race, Junior Achievement of Southwest New England president and CEO, explains that Webster Bank shares JA's philosophy regarding fi nancial health and has been an outstanding partner. "We believe fi nancial literacy should be as important as learning to drive a car. It requires a lot of preparation," he said. "JA takes a continuous, comprehensive approach and Webster Bank continues to work with us year after year." This strategy provides a strong foundation upon which to build fi scal stability and acumen to deal wisely with real-life situations. Luria noted that in 2018, Webster Bank doubled its investment in JA to broaden outreach to more geographic areas. To date, 1,000 bankers have volunteered their time to teach fi nancial literacy classes; more than 15,000 students have reaped the benefi ts of this fi scal learning opportunity. Race reported that studies have found students who have been involved in JA earn 20 percent more than their peers who do not participate in the program. "We are building the next level of fi nancial fi tness," he said. Webster Bank also has a strong history of supporting the United Way. Since Luria joined the bank in 2006, the institution has had a record- breaking employee campaign every year; during the last 13 years more than $17 million has been directed to United Way agencies and community organizations, according to Luria. In 2018, the campaign raised $1.55 million. "I am stunned at the generosity of our employees. Our bankers are part of the solution. They are generous year over year," she said, noting that Webster Bank increased its corporate match to accommodate their designations. Locally invested In addition to its more formal partnerships with non-profi t organizations, Webster Bank has a proud tradition of volunteerism. "We give employees 16 hours annually of paid volunteer time. They choose an activity that is meaningful to them," Luria said. Each year, bank employees have donated 130,000 volunteer hours Sponsored Content WEBSTER BANK INTELLIGENCE SERIES Continued > | Committed to community, Kathryn Luria refl ects "The Webster Way," which forms the foundation for Webster Bank's mission. |

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