For the second year in a row, Newton Federal Bank has joined with the Senior Housing Crime Prevention Foundation, the Independent Community Bankers of America and the American Bankers Association to ensure that 40,000 veterans living in 160 state veteran nursing homes in the U.S. are able to live out their lives in safe, secure, enhanced quality of life environments free from the daily fear of crime, abuse, neglect, hostility and deprivation of personal freedom, as provided through the Senior Housing Crime Prevention Foundation's Senior Crimestoppers program.
"Newton Federal Bank has always strived to give back to our community in various ways and this program provides us with a great opportunity to do just that.
"Considering the sacrifices that America's servicemen and women make on our behalf each and every day, Newton Federal Bank wanted to find a tangible way to show just how much we appreciate them and their families," said Newton Federal Bank President and CEO George Lazenby.
"Protecting our nation's 40,000 elderly veterans living in long-term care is a need that must be addressed, and I can't think of a better way to get this done than by asking every bank in the country to allocate a portion of their annual Community Reinvestment Act budget to securing the Foundation's successful Senior Crimestoppers program," said SHCPF Chairman, President & CEO Peter K. Gwaltney.
The Senior Crimestoppers program is a proprietary operation of the SHCPF, a national organization which was established to provide a vehicle for banks to earn CRA credit
Through support of nursing home residents, who are classified as low-to-moderate income individuals.
Senior Crimestoppers is built on a zero tolerance-to-crime platform that is vigilantly maintained for the residents, staff, management and visitors. Each resident is provided their own personal lock box to safeguard valuables. In addition, cash rewards up to $1,000 are posted on every crime incident that is reported to the SCS call center.
Rewards are paid anonymously to tipsters having information about the crime incident reported.
In addition, all facilities in the program display a membership charter and are provided regular in-service training for residents, staff and management together with employee oath sheets, yard signs and quarterly reporting of crime prevention status.
Because of Newton Federal Bank, each veteran resident will be provided a specially designed veterans personal lock box. In addition, SHCPF will provide each state veterans nursing home with its annual Time of Your Life video exhibit for the resident's enjoyment and each facility will receive an annual cash contribution for a Wish Comes True grant to be given to select veterans.
For more information regarding the Veterans Initiative or the Senior Housing Crime Prevention Foundation, please contact Terry Rooker at (877) 232-0859 or visit their website at www.SHCPFoundation.org.
For more information about the Senior Crimestoppers program, please visit www.seniorcrimestoppers.org
