CEO Message
Thomas J. Shara
President and Chief Executive Officer
Lakeland Bancorp, Inc. and Lakeland Bank
As a community bank, we believe Lakeland has an obligation not only to invest in and provide financial services to individuals and businesses in our communities, but also to support activities that enhance the places where we, our team members and our customers live and work. To that end, we were active in many community organizations and initiatives last year, of which the following were among the most noteworthy:
- Lakeland participated in the Neighborhood Revitalization Tax Credit Program offered through the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs. We also donated $100,000 to help improve a Paterson, New Jersey neighborhood. The funds will help transform a once abandoned property into a neighborhood center that will offer educational programs, job training and microenterprise development services to Paterson residents.
- For nearly a decade, we have supported Pass It Along, a nonprofit organization committed to helping teenagers become confident, resilient and compassionate citizens through self-discovery, volunteerism and leadership.
- We provided funding for the Senior Crimestoppers program serving residents at Middletown Park Rehab and Health Care Center in Middletown, New York. The Senior Crimestoppers program aims to reduce crimes against the elderly in nursing homes and assisted living facilities and to foster a greater sense of security.
- Lakeland again hosted an Annual Scholarship Golf Outing, which provides scholarships to students from 50 local high schools. We have hosted this event for 44 years, helping to raise a total of more than $1 million to support local students who have demonstrated academic success and need financial assistance to attend college.
I am extremely proud of our commitment to the local communities we serve and thank our entire Lakeland team for their professionalism, hard work and passion for excellence.
