Wellesley Scholarship Officers receive $50,000 grant from Wellesley Bank Charitable Foundation. (Left to Right) Bob Lakin, Vice President WSF & Campaign Chair, Thomas Fontaine, President & CEO Wellesley Bank, and Sarah Pedersen, President WSF.

While Wellesley residents often joke/cringe over the huge number of banks across town, there are certainly benefits. In fact, here are $60,000 reasons to be thankful.

Wellesley Scholarship Foundation (WSF) is celebrating a $50K commitment from the Wellesley Bank Charitable Foundation to fund need-based scholarships to Wellesley residents over the next 10 years. Last June, WSF presented awards totaling over $238,500 in need-based scholarships to 75 Wellesley students.

Since December 2011, the WSF Campaign for the Future has received approximately $240,000 in gifts and pledges. Discussing WSF’s efforts, Sarah Pedersen, WSF President, explains, “It is a common misconception that students from Wellesley do not require college financial assistance. However, despite our scholarships, there was still unmet need among our scholarship recipients last June of over $645,000. The enormity of this gap between funding needs and resources is what prompted WSF to launch our Campaign for the Future.”

Separately, Wellesley Recreation and those enjoying the 3 outdoor skating rinks near Wellesley High are the beneficiaries of a $10K donation from Needham Bank. The donation will also support the rinks next year. Wellesley Rec has been encouraging local businesses to step forward with sponsorships to enable more of such resources for the public to enjoy. The frosty winter has made this the longest outdoor skating season in town in recent memory. skating rink check