Meridian Bank recently helped Orion Communities – a Phoenixville-based nonprofit that offers hope for individuals and families experiencing hardship by building bridges that lead to self-reliance – further its mission by providing the necessary support for a project to add new bookshelves at its facility.

The Malvern-based bank’s relationship with Orion began last summer, when a few of the bank’s staff members attended a Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia event entitled “Leveraging Lending and Investments for Nonprofits and Communities.” The Meridian Bank team learned of Orion’s story and was moved by its success in providing basic necessities – like shelter, food, clothing, transportation, and access to healthcare – for its clients.

Kris Keller, Orion’s Executive Director, eventually took a Meridian Bank contingent on a tour of the nonprofit’s facility. Keller pointed out that Orion had multiple boxes of donated books for children, but no bookshelves to store them. The books were sitting in cardboard boxes on the floor and were difficult for the children to move around or sift through.

Joe Tankle – Meridian Bank’s Senior Vice President and a veteran of the nonprofit world, having worked for years as the president of the Upper Main Line YMCA – quickly got a quote from BookcasesPlus in Paoli for the cost of building and staining new bookshelves.

Without hesitation, Meridian Bank and CEO Chris Annas agreed to foot the entire $5,800 bill to provide Orion Communities with the new bookshelves.

Under Annas’s leadership, the bank has contributed nearly $3.5 million to hundreds of charitable organizations in Greater Philadelphia. Furthermore, Meridian employees are empowered to serve on boards, volunteer their time, and help raise funds, all in the spirit of giving back to the community.

Click here to learn more about Meridian Bank.

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