Freedom Credit Union pledges to Square One's capital campaign
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – Freedom Credit Union has pledged $7,500 to Square One's 'Back to Square One' capital campaign, furthering its commitment to community development.
The donation will help support early childhood education in western Mass. and fund Square One's new early learning and family support center in Springfield's South End.
Healey administration awards affordable housing internet grants to western Mass. communities
The planned 26,000-square-foot facility is being built on the same site where Square One's original building stood before it was destroyed by a tornado in 2011. The new campus is scheduled to open next month.
'This gift represents Freedom Credit Union's strong support for our mission and vision for the future of the families who live and work here,' says Kristine Allard, Vice President of Development & Communication for Square One. 'We know that our new campus will play a vital role in positioning our region's young children for long-term success. We are so grateful to our friends at Freedom Credit Union and everyone who has supported our campaign.'
Since launching the campaign in March 2023, Square One has raised more than $13 million toward the construction of its new facility. However, the organization's rapid growth has already created a new challenge: a need for more space.
To help address the space limitations, Balise Auto donated a nearby unoccupied building adjacent to the construction site. That structure requires an estimated $4 million in renovations, which will begin once construction of the new main campus is complete.
'We are proud to support the important work Square One does every day to help children and families in our community grow and thrive,' said Freedom Credit Union President Glenn Welch. 'Their vision to effect meaningful change that results in more promising futures for children, families, and our community closely reflects our own cooperative spirit.'
Square One has seen rising demand for its family support services, a reflection of its growing impact in the region. The expansion of facilities is a strategic move to ensure continued support for Springfield-area families through high-quality education, care, and comprehensive family resources.
The 'Back to Square One' campaign continues to accept donations as it pushes forward with renovations and programming expansion.
WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.
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Rentas said he was a manager of the trust. 'I know nothing, I'm just a manager on the account,' he said in early June. 'I can't disclose any information.' He told The Republican to contact Matos, who has not responded to follow-up inquiries. When asked about the price listed on the quitclaim deed – $305,000 – and who owns the property now, Rentas said he didn't know and hung up. When property is transferred to or from a trust, those involved usually file a document that certifies a trustee, essentially someone who manages the trust, said Laura Marino, Land Court technical assistant at the Hampden County Registry of Deeds. 'Trusts are not required to be recorded with our office,' Marino said in an email. 'Many people do not record Trusts because they want the terms to remain private.' Tatoian said he submitted a complaint last month to the Massachusetts Board of Bar Overseers about Bartley's conduct, accusing him of violating the state's rules of professional conduct for attorneys and a federal law on making false statements. Bartley has long been the Ward 3 city councilor. He has not yet taken out papers to run again for office in the fall. The deadline to return nomination papers is July 29. Several other people took out papers to run in his ward. Tatoian said he was recently notified by the Board of Bar Overseers that it was investigating. Bartley said he had no knowledge of any inquiry. A spokesperson for the board said that by law, it can't comment on any complaints unless an investigation yields a public proceeding and discipline. Bartley remains listed on the bar's website as an active attorney with no public discipline. Read the original article on MassLive.
