Fleetwood Bank Exceeds Goal By Raising Over $14,000 For Local Nonprofits
Fleetwood Bank hosted their Annual Community Gift Basket Bingo on Sunday, October 26, 2025. This fundraiser is put together by Fleetwood Bank employees volunteering their time and effort. While different nonprofits throughout Berks County are selected to benefit from this initiative each year, the Bank always donates 100% of the proceeds evenly among the selected charities.
"In the past three years alone, Fleetwood Bank has raised over $33,000 to to directly benefit local organizations throughout Berks County,” says Timothy Snyder, President and CEO of Fleetwood Bank. “Each year our team and the community as a whole shows up to make a collective difference, and each year I am reminded of the impact we have as community bankers to create opportunities throughout Berks County. I continue to be impressed by the generosity of our customers and the community as we continue to successfully enhance this event for the benefit of our neighbors.”
This year, the Bank had a goal of raising $12,500, which was exceeded by $1,740 thanks to the help of generous customers, employees, local businesses and neighbors throughout the community. As a result, Fleetwood Bank was able to donate the $14,240 that was raised between the following nonprofits: Hannah’s Hope Ministries, Pawsitive Hearts Pet Therapy and Rescue, Inc., Greater Reading Mental Health Alliance, and VOiCEup Berks.
Bank employees personally delivered the checks to the organizations just in time for the holidays. This allowed them the opportunity to personally see how these nonprofits are making an impact. At Hannah’s Hope Ministries on Upland Avenue in Reading, Karen Marsdale, Senior Director, offered a tour of their private family suites while explaining that four women who went through their 18-month program in the last two years went on to purchase their own homes. “Since 2023, 89% of families going through our program have remained in safe, secure housing,” explains Marsdale. “Our purpose is to give each mom the opportunity to learn and grow into the strong, confident woman she is intended to be. Women are finding careers, learning to be independent, and living healthy, satisfying lives. Our goal of ending homelessness one family at a time is truly working!”
Pawsitive Hearts will be allocating the $3,560 they received to help pay for vetting expenses, and they will also be putting some of the money towards their building fund, as they are currently in the process of saving to purchase a shelter. “We are incredibly grateful to Fleetwood Bank for selecting us as one of the recipients of their awesome annual Bingo event,” stated Kathy Iglar, Executive Director.
Wendy Seidel, Executive Director of Greater Reading Mental Health Alliance, says that the donation from Fleetwood Bank will allow GRMHA to continue their mission and to serve people in our community regardless of their ability to pay. “We believe firmly in filling the gaps in services that exist in all communities,” explains Seidel. “We often say, ‘If it exists, we’ll help you find it, and if it doesn’t exist, we’ll create it.’ We are deeply thankful for the generosity of Fleetwood Bank and everyone who helped make this donation possible.”
Since launching in 2016, VOiCEup Berks has engaged thousands of young people in over 57,000 hours of service to Berks County through projects that address real community needs. Last year alone, 1,564 young people between the ages of 11 and 24 gave more than 11,500 hours to causes that matter – tackling food insecurity, supporting mental health, addressing homelessness and social justice, strengthening education, and more. “We’re truly grateful for Fleetwood Bank’s commitment to supporting youth and community programs across Berks County,” says Christi Terefenko, Executive Director of VOiCEup Berks. “This support will help us expand hands-on service-learning opportunities for youth and young adults and give even more students the chance to grow as leaders by strengthening the work young people are doing every day.”
Next year’s fundraiser will take place on Sunday, October 25, 2026 at the Oley Fair Centre. Those looking to make a difference, whether through purchasing a ticket or making a donation, are encouraged to visit fleetwoodbank.com/annualbingofundraiser to stay in the know for more information on how to get involved next year.
About Fleetwood Bank
Founded in 1907, Fleetwood Bank specializes in delivering the highest quality products, service and convenience in financial services with a friendly and familiar face. With over 100+ years as a community bank, they pride themselves in being the only bank based in Berks County, Pennsylvania. Fleetwood Bank offers online and mobile banking, business and personal deposit accounts, loans, cash management services, mortgages, and more. Manage all of your individual and business financial needs at the intersection of convenience and personability with Fleetwood Bank. They employ over 60 educated and motivated team members to improve the quality of life in the communities they serve. Fleetwood Bank is a member of the FDIC and an Equal Housing Lender. Exceptional service is consistently provided across all seven branches located in Blandon, Fleetwood, Kutztown, Lyons, Oley, Shoemakersville, and Wyomissing. For more information, and to see for yourself why Fleetwood Bank was voted Berks County Living’s Best Financial Institution and the Reading Eagle’s Readers Choice for Best Bank three years in a row, visit fleetwoodbank.com.
About Hannah’s Hope Ministries:
Hannah’s Hope Ministries provides a beautiful setting for women who are looking to make changes for a lifetime. They offer each family a private suite, including their own bedrooms and a bath. Their large, open-concept gathering area has a living room and dining area, where families congregate for weeknight family dining, and opportunities for week-night programming for adults. This concept of living in community helps families build relationships and trust among one another, find friendships and share resources. Their professional staff, interact continually with our clients, guiding them through their comprehensive programming. They look at each family holistically and work personally with both moms and children. Learn more at hannahshopeministriesreading.org.
About Pawsitive Hearts Pet Therapy and Rescue, Inc.:
Since their inception on January 1, 2020, Pawsitive Hearts Pet Therapy and Rescue, Inc. has saved over 1,100 cats and kittens, as well as 20 dogs. Their team is comprised of all volunteers with no paid staff, so any donations go directly towards helping homeless animals. Every pet they save is thoroughly vetted, including all age-appropriate vaccinations, spay or neuter, microchip, and – for cats – individually testing for feline leukemia and feline aids. Pawsitive Hearts has ten animal-assisted therapy teams that have provided thousands of smiles during visits at schools and nursing homes. Learn more about how you can make a difference as a cat or dog foster by visiting pawsitiveheartspa.org.
About Greater Reading Mental Health Alliance:
Greater Reading Mental Health Alliance has been in operation since 1955. Growing from a very small location in Shillington to their current location in Wyomissing, they are continuing their mission to make Berks County a healthier, happier place to live. They serve over 40 people in their guardianship program, which protects people who are unable to care for and protect themselves and over 75 people in their representative payee program, which helps people manage their social security funds. Their educational advocates work with all of the Berks County school districts to assure children with special education needs are receiving the education they are entitled to by law, often seeing children go from below average reading levels to college attendees! The peer support program matches people with mental health concerns to employees who are in recovery themselves, and they provide and sustain numerous support groups in Berks County, addressing everything from stress and anxiety to the loss of a loved one to suicide. Learn more by visiting grmha.org.
About VOiCEup Berks:
Founded in 2016 as a fund of the Berks County Community Foundation, VOiCEup Berks mobilizes and empowers young changemakers to shape more equitable communities through service-learning. Its flagship youth engagement program, Youth Volunteer Corps of Reading, engages youth ages 11–18 in meaningful service projects that address community needs while fostering leadership, life, and career skills. For young adults ages 18 to 24, VOiCEup’s Generation Impact initiative offers service-learning opportunities, volunteer experiences, and professional networking designed to build leadership capacity and strengthen community ties. To learn more visit voiceupberks.org.
