Newsroom

Eastern Bank Honors Sue Chandler, Executive Director of DOVE, Inc., With A Community Advocacy Award

Public Health and Human Services Leader Advocates For Domestic Violence Intervention and Prevention

BOSTON, December 28, 2018 – Eastern Bank, America’s oldest and largest mutual bank, has honored Sue Chandler, Executive Director of DOVE Inc. (“DOVE”), with a 2018 Community Advocacy Award. DOVE (“Domestic Violence Ended”) serves the greater South Shore community, and remains the only domestic violence shelter and community-based service provider based in Norfolk County. Sue and DOVE are committed to promoting and fostering individual health and well-being as well as communities that embrace diversity, equity, and justice.

Sue was named Executive Director of DOVE in 2010 and brings over two decades of non-profit leadership and management to her role. During her tenure, DOVE has grown to a budget of over $2 million and 38 staff. Since 2010, the team at DOVE has worked to strengthen the organization’s infrastructure, Board of Directors, programming, and services, including: establishing more affirming and welcoming services for LGBQT* survivors and survivors for whom English is a second language; growing partnerships with eight local police departments to provide on-site services and consultation to front-line officers regarding domestic violence calls; cultivating a robust legal team, with five staff attorneys providing representation regarding restraining orders, family and probate court matters, and immigration for survivors of domestic abuse; establishing services for children exposed to violence in the home; and expanding its Teen Dating Violence Prevention program, YouthSpeak, into 16 area high schools and two middle schools, and providing education to over 3,000 high school students annually.

Sue earned her undergraduate degree at Bowdoin College, and Master of Public Health and Master of Social Work degrees at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, and completed a Certificate Program in Nonprofit Management & Leadership through the Boston University School of Management Executive Leadership Program. Immediately prior to her appointment at DOVE, she was the Director of the Community Advocacy Program (CAP) of CCHERS, Inc., a partnership of community health center-based domestic violence programs in Boston. She currently resides in Westwood, MA.

This celebration of Eastern’s Community Advocacy Award coincides with the Bank’s 200^th anniversary year, when it is focusing its community service, philanthropy, and advocacy efforts toward helping eliminate barriers around issues that disproportionately impact women and girls in health care, education, the workplace, and in society generally, in honor of the Bank’s first customers who were predominantly women.

“Addressing and eradicating the inequities and injustices faced by many women and girls is at the heart of Sue Chandler’s work. This is where she has devoted her career, and why she is so deserving of a Community Advocacy Award,” said Bob Rivers, Chair and CEO of Eastern Bank.

Sue Chandler stated, “We have seen survivors be increasingly bold in recent years, as they speak up, often at great personal expense, about issues of sexual harassment and misconduct, sexual assault, and domestic violence. We honor their strength and courage. Alongside these survivors, we are being challenged to be more bold, addressing systemic barriers and oppression, as we support survivors to achieve safety.”

About Eastern Bank
Founded in 1818 and celebrating its 200th anniversary in 2018, Boston-based Eastern Bank is America’s oldest and largest mutual bank, with $11 billion in assets and over 120 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 $120 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.

###