Needham Bank Sponsors The Tenacity Summer Tennis & Reading Program

BOSTON, MA – Needham Bank is providing sponsorship to support the Tenacity Summer Tennis & Reading Program’s (STRP) two Hyde Park locations. The funds will help support the STRP’s mission to provide a safe, educational, active, and fun summer activity to youth ages 6-16 – all free of charge to the families who participate.

Photo: Needham Bank Senior Vice President, Eric Morse (pictured on the right, back row) and Marketing Event & Community Relations Manager, Erica McLaughlin (pictured on the right, 2nd row) joined Tenacity Acting Chief Philanthropy Officer, Philip Milburn (pictured on the left, back row), Tenacity’s Director of Tennis, Fitness, and Summer Programs, Drew Hendrickson (pictured in the back row, second from left) and Tenacity Summer Tennis & Reading Program staff and participants at Francis D. Martini Memorial Shell Park.

Tenacity partners with Boston Public Schools, Boston Parks & Recreation, and community organizations to provide school-based and out-of-school time academic and social support as well as tennis and fitness instruction. Each July and August, Tenacity serves nearly 4,500 Boston youth ages 6-16 through its Summer Tennis & Reading Program held at 23 public parks across the city. Each age group meets for a three-hour session where time is split between tennis/fitness and summer reading activities. Offered in partnership with the City of Boston, Tenacity’s STRP provides an enriching learning environment for city youth, keeping minds and bodies active during the summer recess.

“We’re honored to receive such a generous gift from Needham Bank,” said Ned Eames, Tenacity Founder and CEO. “Tenacity’s programs help narrow the opportunity and achievements gaps for Boston students from under-resourced communities and support from partners like Needham Bank help move our mission forward and build a stronger community.”

Tenacity was founded in 1999 and serves over 6,000 youth and young adults from Boston through unique school year and summer programs. Tenacity’s programs provide a Pathway to Post-Secondary Success through a combination of academic enrichment, mentoring, family engagement, and tennis/fitness coaching which together improve educational outcomes for students, increase graduation rates, and help transform the lives of less advantaged Boston youth.

Joe Campanelli, President and CEO of Needham Bank, remarked, “I’ve been well aware of the incredible work Tenacity has done for many years. We admire their community commitment and are privileged to partner with such an outstanding organization.”

About Tenacity
Tenacity’s Pathway to Post-Secondary Success programs open educational and career pathways that offer countless opportunities for personal, civic and professional growth while enabling young people to build self-confidence and explore success as students, mentors and leaders. The outcomes are striking. Tenacity has maintained a 95% high school graduation rate among students who have completed their Middle School Academy, with 80% of those graduates going on to higher education.

About Needham Bank
Needham Bank, headquartered at 1063 Great Plain Ave. in Needham, MA, is the quintessential community bank, serving Boston and its neighboring communities continuously since 1892. Needham Bank represents the evolution of community banking™, offering the latest financial products and technologies, while maintaining an unwavering commitment to the communities served. For more information please visit NeedhamBank.com. Needham Bank is a member of FDIC and SIF.