Boston, October 11, 2019 – The Children’s Trust, a statewide organization dedicated to stopping child abuse and neglect in Massachusetts, announced today that it has received a $10,000 Grant for Good from Eastern Bank, America’s oldest and largest mutual bank, to conduct child sexual abuse prevention trainings in Lawrence and Lowell. National statistics show that 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys are victims of sexual abuse. The grant will fund the “Keep Kids Safe” Train the Trainer Program which provides evidence-informed training and support to early childhood professionals on the topic of child sexual abuse prevention. 

“Child sexual abuse shatters the lives of young victims and their families,” said Suzin Bartley, Executive Director of the Children’s Trust. “There are policies in place to deal with abuse once it occurs but there is a tremendous gap when it comes to efforts to stop child abuse before it begins. Eastern Bank has recognized this gap and we are thankful they are helping us bring this program to Lawrence and Lowell.”

The “Keep Kids Safe” Train the Trainer Program trains professionals to offer culturally-sensitive and -informed workshops that teach parents how to talk with their children about sexual abuse prevention in a safe and developmentally-appropriate way. The grant will fund training for 25 early childhood professionals who will then train a minimum of 300 parents and impact over 600 children. The full-day training prepares early childhood professionals to deliver child sexual abuse prevention trainings to staff and parents in their schools, organizations, and communities. The Children’s Trust will identify two center-based early childhood education programs that have demonstrated the willingness, readiness, and capacity to effectively engage in the program.

The grant is part of a $1 million commitment Eastern Bank has made to local nonprofit organizations, strengthening options for children and families across Eastern’s New England footprint.  Persistent gaps in the quality of and access to early childhood development programs, as well as in parent engagement, are known to cause disparities in opportunities to succeed throughout life. Grants are intended to ensure children and their families have more equitable access to the resources needed early in life for healthy development, while funding a sector that receives a staggeringly small proportion of all philanthropy. 

“Providing every child with an equal opportunity for a bright future is a basic right,” said Bob Rivers, Chair and CEO of Eastern Bank. “By supporting organizations that assist parents and caregivers and prepare children to be ready to learn and succeed, we are helping to create the foundation children need to thrive. On behalf of everyone at Eastern, we congratulate the grant recipients and thank them for their dedication to the children in our communities.”

As part of Eastern’s $1 million commitment to support enriching early childhood development, the Children’s Trust is among 50 organizations that provide leading early childhood development programs across Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island and are each receiving a $10,000 Grant for Good. These grants are focused on providing support in four critical areas: achieving early learning quality standards, strengthening parent engagement, supporting professional development for educators, and upgrading early learning facilities and supplies. 

About the Children’s Trust
The Children’s Trust is on a mission to stop child abuse in Massachusetts. We give parents the tools and resources to build self-confidence and gain lifelong skills to ensure children grow up safe and healthy. Learn more at www.childrenstrustma.org.

About Eastern Bank
Founded in 1818, Boston-based Eastern Bank is America’s oldest and largest mutual bank, with over $11 billion in assets and more than 115 locations serving communities in eastern Massachusetts, southern and coastal New Hampshire, and Rhode Island. Eastern provides exceptional access to fairly priced banking, investment and insurance products and services for consumers and businesses of all sizes. Eastern Bank, which includes Eastern Wealth Management and Eastern Insurance, is known for its outspoken advocacy and community support that has exceeded more than $140 million in charitable giving since 1999. An inclusive company, Eastern employs 1,900+ deeply committed professionals who value relationships with their customers, colleagues, and communities. Join us for good at www.easternbank.com and follow Eastern on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.

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