Eastern Bank raises $200,000 for hurricane relief

BOSTON, Oct. 12, 2005 – Eastern Bank’s Hurricane Katrina donation drive ended this week, raising more than $200,000 from customers, employees and the bank’s charitable foundation on behalf of the American Red Cross.

Thousands of people across eastern Massachusetts participated in the effort, raising money for the organization’s civilian relief efforts in the Gulf States, which include providing shelters, meals and direct financial assistance.

“I am pleased with the results of this tremendous effort,” said Stan Lukowski, Chairman and CEO. “Once again, we see the deep reserves of compassion and generosity among our customers, employees and management team, and we are grateful. They have truly made a difference.”

Customers of the bank raised $105,000, while its employees, directors and trustees added another $51,000. The Eastern Bank Charitable Foundation matched that number with its own $51,000, which brought the total to $207,000.

This marks the latest in a long line of relief efforts organized by the bank, which also coordinated donations for the victims of the recent tsunami and the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, among other causes.

 “We are grateful to the Eastern Bank community and customers for their tremendous support, ” said Deborah Jackson, CEO of the American Red Cross of Massachusetts Bay.  “With this donation and others like it, the American Red Cross can continue its mission of providing help to those desperately in need.”

Since hurricanes Katrina and Rita struck, the American Red Cross has provided food and shelter to 750,000 survivors spread across all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Nearly a million people have received financial assistance.

As of Tuesday, Oct. 4, the American Red Cross has spent or committed about $1.3 billion for hurricane relief efforts, including direct financial assistance, food and shelter, and temporary lodging expenses. Current Red Cross estimates put the organization’s total need at more than $2 billion.

About Eastern Bank Corporation
Based in Boston, Eastern Bank is the largest independent, mutually owned commercial banking franchise in New England.  With more than $6 billion in assets and 73 branches stretching from Merrimack Valley to Cape Cod, Eastern offers superior service, convenience and a full range of financial products for consumers, businesses, investors, government agencies and not-for-profit organizations.  Its subsidiaries are Eastern Insurance and Fantini & Gorga, a real estate advisory firm. For more information, contact: Joe Bartolotta, Public Relations Director, Eastern Bank, (781) 596-4411, or e-mail Joe Bartolotta.

About the American Red Cross
All American Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people. You can help the victims of recent disasters and thousands of other disasters across the country each year by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, which enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to those in need. Call 1-800-HELP NOW or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Contributions to the Disaster Relief Fund may be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P. O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting www.redcross.org.  The American Red Cross honors donor intent. If you wish to designate your donation to a specific disaster please do so at the time of your donation.