KeyBank donates funds for NMCC Wellness Center

    PRESQUE ISLE — KeyBank has invested in the communities it serves by directing $5,000 to Northern Maine Community College for its new wellness and student center project.
    “KeyBank has been a strong supporter of NMCC and the Maine Community College System over the years. Their continued support of projects that impact the regions served both by Maine’s community colleges and by KeyBank is greatly appreciated,” said Timothy Crowley, NMCC president. 
     The college will be breaking ground this spring for a 10,000-square-foot addition to house the Rodney Smith Wellness Center, a facility that will benefit both the NMCC campus and members of surrounding communities. Renovations begin in February on existing space in the Christie and Martin buildings for the new Akeley Student Center. The space will be a gathering spot for students to socialize, do homework and access services such as the health center. 
     “This project is a good fit for us since KeyBank is committed to promoting wellness among employees and has partnered with NMCC in other community efforts,” said Steven Gagnon, KeyBank senior vice president.
     One such successful collaboration was “Key to Your Finances,” a weekly television ad series that ran on WAGM-TV in 2008-09 featuring NMCC business students and instructors who provided various financial information ranging from tax tips to holiday spending guidance. KeyBank funded the venture, providing the vehicle to increase the visibility of NMCC’s Business Department while also providing helpful financial information to the bank’s customers and others in the region.
    KeyBank’s support of the wellness and student center project at NMCC will be combined with support from other local businesses and organizations to complete the final $1 million in funding needed for this $6 million project. The first $5 million was received from a private donor in 2012.