Provident Bank and The Provident Bank Foundation Support Volunteer Challenge Project to Benefit ArtSmart Program

Pictured (L – R) Pat Messman, Owner, Chocolate Works Lehigh Valley; Samantha Plotino, Foundation Associate, The Provident Bank Foundation; Richard Montalvo, Credit Analyst, Provident Bank; Andrea Reid, Events & Community Relations Administrator, Provident Bank; Nicholas Michael, Business Development Manager, ArtsQuest; Jody King, Board President, Volunteer Center of the Lehigh Valley

Provident Bank and The Provident Bank Foundation (PBF) were recently joint Presenting Sponsors of the Volunteer Center of the Lehigh Valley’s 2018 Volunteer Challenge. The Volunteer Challenge is an invitation-only corporate competition in which company-sponsored teams conceive, design and complete projects benefitting local nonprofit agencies. Projects are either selected by the organization or identified by the Volunteer Center. 

The 2018 Challenge project beneficiary was the ArtSmart program at ArtsQuest - an afterschool art enrichment program that impacts over 300 students annually in the Bethlehem Area School District through unique hands-on experiences at the Banana Factory Art Center. This is Provident Bank’s fourth year completing a Challenge project. Previous projects benefitted Habitat for Humanity, Valley Youth House and the Easton Area Neighborhood Center. 

ArtSmart students from Donegan Elementary School, along with their teachers and families, were invited to a “Chocol-ART” party at Chocolate Works of Bethlehem.  Representatives from Provident Bank and The Provident Bank Foundation were on hand along with Chocolate Works staff to help the students create their own custom chocolate-dipped masterpieces.  Pat Messman, owner of Chocolate Works, also provided an educational component on the history of chocolate – allowing students to examine a cacao pod and taste samples from each stage of the chocolate-making process.   

“We were delighted to partner with ArtsQuest and Chocolate Works on this Challenge project.  Like Provident Bank, these organizations are committed to giving back to the community.” said Andrea Reid, Events and Community Relations Administrator, Provident Bank.

The Volunteer Center aims to engage the community to care for one another through volunteerism by being the Lehigh Valley’s premier resource to connect willing individuals and companies with the nonprofit agencies that need assistance.  A Volunteer Challenge celebration that included all project teams and agencies was recently held at the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks. 

About Provident Bank

Provident Bank, a community-oriented bank offering “Commitment you can count on” since 1839, is the wholly owned subsidiary of Provident Financial Services, Inc. (NYSE:PFS), which reported assets of $9.73 billion as of March 31, 2018.  With $6.76 billion in deposits, Provident Bank provides a comprehensive suite of financial products and services through its network of branches throughout northern and central New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania. The Bank also provides fiduciary and wealth management services through its wholly owned subsidiary, Beacon Trust Company.  For more information about Provident Bank, visit www.provident.bank or join the conversations on Facebook (ProvidentBank) and Twitter (@ProvidentBank).

About The Provident Bank Foundation

The Provident Bank Foundation was established in 2003 by Provident Bank to enhance the quality of life in the region through support of not-for-profit groups, institutions, schools and other 501(c)(3) organizations that provide services in communities served by the Bank. Since inception, the Foundation has granted more than $23 million to not-for-profit organizations and institutions working toward stronger communities. For more information about The Provident Bank Foundation, visit www.theprovidentbankfoundation.org or call (862) 260-3990.