Atlantis opened its doors to executives from Bristol County Savings Bank to show them their philanthropic investment at work.
Patrick Murray and Jeff Bradley toured the new Atlantis Charter School campus last month. Murray is president & CEO of BCSB and president of the Bristol County Savings Charitable Foundation (BCSCF). Bradley is vice president of community relations. They saw the Upper and Lower schools and the track and field complex overlooking South Watuppa Pond. They got to see inside a few classrooms, including the Career Academies.
Atlantis has received grants the past two years from the Foundation. In both cases, the money was used to purchase new technology for the Arts, Culture and Design Academy, one of Atlantis’s five Career Academies.
“Bristol County Savings Bank has been a big supporter of Atlantis’s Career Academies,” said Robert Beatty, executive director of Atlantis. “During their visit they were able to see the Apple Mac technology that their grant helped purchase, and other technologies like 3D printers and the SimMan that Atlantis has invested in with the support of organizations like BCSB.”
The charitable foundation was established in 1996 as a way for the bank make a positive impact on the communities it serves. Since then, it has awarded more than $20 million in grants to local 501(c)(3) organizations that deal with critical issues such as housing, economic development and education.
Atlantis Charter School received a $5,000 grant from Bristol County Savings Bank to support its Arts, Culture and Design Academy at a check presentation at White’s of Westport on January 11, 2019. Pictured from left: Dennis Leahy, executive vice president, treasurer and CFO of BCSB, and treasurer of BCSCF; Dr. Jean MacCormack, chair of the Southcoast Advisory Board, BCSCF; Robert Beatty, executive director of Atlantis Charter School; George Jacome, development director of the Atlantis Educational Foundation; and Patrick Murray, president and CEO of BCSB, and president of BCSCF
“When you invest in education you are investing in the future,” Bradley said. “It is important to help young people reach their full potential because they are our future leaders and professionals. Atlantis’s Career Academies are preparing its students for in-demand careers here in the SouthCoast using cutting-edge technology, so by supporting Atlantis we are not only supporting education, but future economic development in our region as well.”
Atlantis received a $7,500 grant in 2017 and a $5,000 grant in 2018. Atlantis has applied for a third grant from BCSB and if approved the money would be used to further expand technology in the Arts, Culture & Design Academy.
“Pat and I were both very impressed with the new campus,” said Bradley. “The students seemed happy and engaged. The dedication and professionalism of the teachers and administrators was evident as well.”
Bradley is looking forward to finding new ways to work with Atlantis in the future. He said some of the bank’s board members work in the same fields students are studying at Atlantis, so he’s hoping to invite them along for another tour in the future.