Communities in Schools of Chesterfield — A Business Banking Member

In 1993, a group of business leaders, government officials, and school administrators from Chesterfield took a bus trip to observe a Communities In Schools program in action. Empowered by what they saw, Communities In Schools (CIS) of Chesterfield was founded later that same year with a mission to surround students with a community of support that empowers them to succeed in school. 

Since then, CIS of Chesterfield has grown to provide services to over 9,000 students in nine public elementary, middle, and high schools in Chesterfield, VA. On-site coordinators in each school help provide over-arching support to the students, ensuring that they have their basic needs met and provide connections to academic support and mentors. “We wrap support around the students,” says Ashley Hall, Executive Director of CIS of Chesterfield. “We consider all of the barriers that keep a student from learning and work to meet those needs.”  

As the CIS of Chesterfield grew, they knew they needed a strong banking partner on their side. “We did an assessment of our financial health and opportunities,” says Ashley. “We realized we didn’t have a personal contact at our current bank. That was the driving force to look at a community-focused bank, ultimately leading us to TowneBank.” 

A longtime supporter of the organization, the team at the Chesterfield office was thrilled to officially welcome CIS of Chesterfield to the TowneBank Family.
 
“We helped them establish their operating accounts and have since set-up money market accounts and treasury services and we are working on corporate credit cards for their team,” says Matt Clarke, President of TowneBank, Chesterfield. “Ashley is an amazing advocate for CIS of Chesterfield and we want to be a strong partner in helping provide whatever they need to succeed.” 

The partnership was especially important throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, as schools shut down with little notice and the services provided by CIS of Chesterfield became more critical than ever. 

“CIS of Chesterfield serves as a lifeline for students,” says Matt. “We walked them through the Paycheck Protection Program process and ultimately secured an SBA loan, allowing CIS of Chesterfield Site Coordinators to stay on staff throughout the summer so they could continue providing critical resources to the populations they serve.” 
 
Whether facing challenging circumstances, or planning for the future, Ashley and the team at CIS of Chesterfield know that TowneBank is there to offer support and expertise. “TowneBank continues to be a strong partner. They help us think more creatively about our finances and provide personal attention to make sure everything we do is strategic and aligned with our mission,” she says. 

As CIS of Chesterfield continues to expand its services to more students, TowneBank will be there to help. “Everyone at TowneBank has been so friendly. That is still the case as the bank grows – they haven’t lost that sense of community,” Ashley says. 

At TowneBank, we believe in partnering with organizations that support the health of our local communities. Contact us to learn more about how we can help your organization or business. Or, call your local TowneBank branch to speak with a banker today.