Essex Happenings 4.9.12

Essex Happenings….Tuesday, April 9 2012

Essex Heritage Youth Program Expansion

There are numerous programs that Essex Heritage has created with its many regional partners, but the one that created summer employment opportunities for local youths may be one of the most important programs. ENHC has provided education programs and our spectacular community grant program, but none may be as valuable as the one that puts young people to work for the summer.

We recently learned that our Director of Development, Deb Payson, has been working with the ENHC senior partner, the National Park Service and a local banking partner to expand the present program with a real level of success. The following press release outlines the details of that program expansion.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


TD Charitable Foundation supports Essex National Heritage Commission and the National Park Service through a donation for the Youth Summer Jobs Program

March 28, 2012 (Salem, MA) -- TD Bank, through the TD Charitable Foundation, recently donated a total of $5,000 to the Essex National Heritage Commission in Essex County as part of the bank’s commitment to giving back to the community.

The Essex National Heritage Commission and National Park Service are thankful for the generosity from the TD Charitable Foundation for the Youth Summer Jobs program. The grant will allow for the hiring of three additional under-served youth to start working throughout the two National Park sites in Salem and Saugus.

“Connecting youth to our local heritage and national parks is a top priority for Essex Heritage and the National Park Service,” said Annie C. Harris, Executive Director, Essex National Heritage Commission. “And we are thrilled to receive this grant from TD Charitable Foundation to hire additional youth who will engage in educational and enrichment programs, while gaining valuable employment experience and life and leadership skills. This program is a successful example of the benefits of public-private partnerships.”

The Youth Summer Job Corps program began in partnership with the North Shore Work Force Investment Board with federal stimulus grant funding which underwrote portions of the first and second summers. The program is sustained by funding through the National Park Service (NPS) along with investments by Essex Heritage. The Youth Summer Job Corps program is directed towards youth ages 14-18. For many of these students this is their first job experience and they are hired by Essex Heritage and NPS to work for 8 to 12 weeks in the summer under the supervision of NPS staff. The youth rotate through a variety of jobs including maintenance, administration, visitor services and interpretation. They are also given assistance on how to prepare for work, work place expectations, resume preparation, and career development. Several of the older youths whom are employed during the summer continue to work during the fall tourist season when funding is available.

“Youth who excel in this program are hired as National Park Service employees and brought back to work season after season,” said Michael Quijano-West, Superintendent of Salem Maritime and Saugus Iron Works National Historic Sites. “This grant funding enables us to hire three additional youth who will now be able to explore our national heritage and work alongside our rangers and staff this summer. This program provides essential job skills for youth and will help cultivate the next generation of stewards for our country’s natural and cultural resources.”

“A staunch commitment to active involvement in the local community is a vital element of the TD Bank philosophy,” said Daniel Griggs, Market President, TD Bank. “TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank® and the TD Charitable Foundation provide financial and other support to affordable housing initiatives, financial literacy and education and the environment, many of which focus on improving the welfare of children and families.”

Essex National Heritage Commission is the non-profit steward of the Essex National Heritage Area. Our mission is to preserve and enhance the historic, cultural and natural resources of Essex County for the benefit of all who live in, work in and visit the Area. Established in 1996, Essex Heritage has fostered many significant public-private partnerships throughout the 500 square mile area. One of Essex Heritage’s most significant collaborations is with the National Park Service. Working with NPS, Essex Heritage seeks to advance their mission of conservation, education, preservation and recreation within and beyond the two National Parks in this region.

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About the Essex National Heritage Area
The Essex National Heritage Commission (Essex Heritage) is the non-profit management entity for Essex National Heritage Area, one of forty-nine heritage partnership parks of the National Park Service. Working in collaboration with the National Park Service, the Essex Heritage promotes public/private partnerships and develops and implements programs that preserve, promote and enhance regional awareness of the unique historic, cultural and natural resources found within the Area. For more information, visit the website at www.essexheritage.org or call (978) 740-0444.

About Salem Maritime National Historic Site
Salem Maritime National Historic Site was designated in 1937, the first National Historic Site in the National Park system. The nine acre site includes the homes of merchants and mariners, the Salem Custom House in which the famous author Nathaniel Hawthorne worked, and a replica of the three-masted cargo vessel Friendship. Today, the park rangers and volunteers of Salem Maritime NHS continue to inform and inspire visitors with the maritime history of New England and the United States. For more information, visit us on the web at www.nps.gov/sama or call 978-740-1650.

About Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site
Site Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site was designated in 1968 as a unit of the National Park system. This National Park commemorates the first integrated iron works in North America, established 1646. The nine acre site includes working waterwheels, hot forges, mills, an historic 17th century home and a lush river basin. Today, the park rangers and volunteers of Saugus Iron Works NHS continue to inform and inspire visitors with the industrial history of New England and the United States. For more information, visit us on the web at www.nps.gov/sair or call 781-233-0050.

About the TD Charitable Foundation
The TD Charitable Foundation is the charitable giving arm of TD Bank N.A., which operates as TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank®, and is one of the 10 largest commercial banking organizations in the United States. The Foundation's mission is to serve the individuals, families and businesses in all the communities where TD Bank operates, having made $84.9 million in charitable donations since its inception in 2002. The Foundation’s areas of focus are affordable housing, financial literacy and education, and the environment. More information on the TD Charitable Foundation, including an online grant application, is available at www.TDBank.com.

About TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank®
TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank, is one of the 10 largest banks in the U.S., providing more than 8 million customers with a full range of retail, small business and commercial banking products and services at more than 1,280 convenient locations throughout the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Metro D.C., the Carolinas and Florida. In addition, TD Bank and its subsidiaries offer customized wealth management services through TD Wealth, and insurance products and services through TD Insurance, Inc. TD Bank is headquartered in Cherry Hill, N.J., and Portland, Maine. To learn more, find TD Bank on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TDMoneyLoungeUS, on Twitter at www.twitter.com/TDBank_US, or visit www.tdbank.com.

TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank, is a member of TD Bank Group and a subsidiary of The Toronto-Dominion Bank of Toronto, Canada, a top 10 financial services company in North America and one of the few banks in the world rated Aaa by Moody's. The Toronto-Dominion Bank trades on the New York and Toronto stock exchanges under the ticker symbol "TD." To learn more, visit www.td.com.

Death of Two Former Neighbors

When we moved to Danvers in 1965, we lived one home from a street intersection. We enjoyed the company of two neighbors on opposite corners who have recently passed away. Because of my recent illness, I was unable to pay final respects to either neighbor. Both men, Robert Tierney and John Call were excellent neighbors and good friends. As life turns, both men produced sons that played roles in my later life. Kevin Tierney until last year was the President of Essex Heritage, and I am proud to serve on both the Danvers Historical Society, and the St. Richard’s Pastoral Council Boards with John Call Jr.

REST IN PEACE BOB TIERNEY AND JOHN CALL