Pioneer Donates $10K to Support Youth at Vanderheyden
June 05, 2025
Pioneer Donates $10,000 to Support Youth Education and Employment Programs at Vanderheyden
Funding will assist Vanderheyden’s Career Center and The Vandy Thrift Shoppe, which provide valuable training and experience to enhance the growth and potential of students
ALBANY – Pioneer (NASDAQ: PBFS), a leading financial institution in New York’s Capital Region, today presented a $10,000 donation to Vanderheyden, one of the area’s premier children, adult and family service agencies, during a ceremony at The Vandy Thrift Shoppe in downtown Albany. The funding will support a pair of Vanderheyden’s education and employment programs that provide young people with essential training and experience to develop career skills and build brighter futures.
The donation is aligned with the Pioneer Charitable Foundation’s mission of “Helping Kids be Kids.” Since its formation in 2018, the foundation has provided more than $1.9 million in financial support to well over 400 local nonprofits that improve the health and welfare of vulnerable area children, providing housing, nutrition, or health care, and educational, social and recreational programs.
Following a check presentation, Pioneer President and CEO Tom Amell joined students behind the counter as a guest cashier at The Vandy Thrift Shoppe, receiving a firsthand look at the transferable and work-specific skills being developed by students who help operate and manage the store.
“I am so impressed with the aptitude and enthusiasm of these students, and with the incredible work Vanderheyden does to empower them with opportunities that are truly life-changing,” said Amell. “We proudly provide this financial support as a means of expanding our efforts to give young people a chance to build careers and lives that are both productive and fulfilling.”
A portion of the funding will support The Vandy Thrift Shoppe, located at 412 Broadway in Albany, which serves as a training location for future retail positions. Vanderheyden students, team members, clients, and other agency personnel work collaboratively to run the store, taking a project-based approach to teach essential skills the students can apply to a variety of industries.
Funding will also assist Vanderheyden’s Career Center, designed to build and maintain supportive employment services for students. Those services include mentorships, field experiences, and the creation of specific curricula to address the needs of individuals impacted by behavioral and mental health challenges, as well as disabilities.
“Vanderheyden is thrilled with our ongoing partnership with Pioneer and is so grateful for their generous support of our mission to change lives to save lives through education, job training, residential and community support services,” said Karen Carpenter, President and CEO of Vanderheyden.
The funding from Pioneer will also enable Vanderheyden to qualify for a matching grant from Business for Good, a nonprofit philanthropic organization providing opportunities to people in underserved communities.
To learn more about the Pioneer Charitable Foundation, and/or make a secure online donation, visit www.pioneerny.com/community.
Funding will assist Vanderheyden’s Career Center and The Vandy Thrift Shoppe, which provide valuable training and experience to enhance the growth and potential of students
ALBANY – Pioneer (NASDAQ: PBFS), a leading financial institution in New York’s Capital Region, today presented a $10,000 donation to Vanderheyden, one of the area’s premier children, adult and family service agencies, during a ceremony at The Vandy Thrift Shoppe in downtown Albany. The funding will support a pair of Vanderheyden’s education and employment programs that provide young people with essential training and experience to develop career skills and build brighter futures.
The donation is aligned with the Pioneer Charitable Foundation’s mission of “Helping Kids be Kids.” Since its formation in 2018, the foundation has provided more than $1.9 million in financial support to well over 400 local nonprofits that improve the health and welfare of vulnerable area children, providing housing, nutrition, or health care, and educational, social and recreational programs.
Following a check presentation, Pioneer President and CEO Tom Amell joined students behind the counter as a guest cashier at The Vandy Thrift Shoppe, receiving a firsthand look at the transferable and work-specific skills being developed by students who help operate and manage the store.
“I am so impressed with the aptitude and enthusiasm of these students, and with the incredible work Vanderheyden does to empower them with opportunities that are truly life-changing,” said Amell. “We proudly provide this financial support as a means of expanding our efforts to give young people a chance to build careers and lives that are both productive and fulfilling.”
A portion of the funding will support The Vandy Thrift Shoppe, located at 412 Broadway in Albany, which serves as a training location for future retail positions. Vanderheyden students, team members, clients, and other agency personnel work collaboratively to run the store, taking a project-based approach to teach essential skills the students can apply to a variety of industries.
Funding will also assist Vanderheyden’s Career Center, designed to build and maintain supportive employment services for students. Those services include mentorships, field experiences, and the creation of specific curricula to address the needs of individuals impacted by behavioral and mental health challenges, as well as disabilities.
“Vanderheyden is thrilled with our ongoing partnership with Pioneer and is so grateful for their generous support of our mission to change lives to save lives through education, job training, residential and community support services,” said Karen Carpenter, President and CEO of Vanderheyden.
The funding from Pioneer will also enable Vanderheyden to qualify for a matching grant from Business for Good, a nonprofit philanthropic organization providing opportunities to people in underserved communities.
To learn more about the Pioneer Charitable Foundation, and/or make a secure online donation, visit www.pioneerny.com/community.
