SPRINGFIELD — Throughout the month of June, Freedom Credit Union collected cash donations at its branches throughout western Massachusetts to benefit Griffin’s Friends, a volunteer-led group dedicated to providing relief and support to children with cancer and their families, raising a total of $1,400.
“Over the years, Griffin’s Friends has earned a special place in our hearts because of the passion its volunteers have for preserving the memory of Griffin Kelleher through generous acts of kindness,” Freedom Credit Union President Glenn Welch said in a statement. “There is a kind of magic in honoring the spirit of a child by providing joyful experiences that impact children and families on such a personal level, and at a time when they are needed most.”
Griffin’s Friends was founded in 1994 in Springfield and is named for Griffin D. Kelleher, who died of cancer at 14 months old. The group supports children in treatment for cancer and their families by providing small acts of joy. Examples of the types of experiences offered by Griffin’s Friends include trips to theater performances and sporting events; in-hospital and outpatient entertainment; massage therapy; and activities like art and games.
Freedom Credit Union has branches across western Massachusetts, including in Greenfield and Turners Falls.
GREENFIELD — Panna Royal has been promoted by Greenfield Savings Bank to the position of senior vice president and chief information officer. As CIO, Royal will oversee the Information Technology Department’s operations, including the planning, management, implementation, support and security of the bank’s information and computer technologies.
“Technology is essential to the successful operation of the bank,” Thomas Meshako, president and CEO of Greenfield Savings Bank, said in a statement. “Panna’s experience working in the financial industry, and her leadership and project management skills combined with her in-depth knowledge of IT, assure that our bank will continue to offer efficient IT services and build a robust long-term strategy.”
Royal joined Greenfield Savings Bank in November 2019 as senior network administrator with more than 25 years of experience working in IT. In 2020, she was promoted to vice president and senior network administrator in the IT Department. In 2022, she became senior technical program and compliance manager in the Operations Department, implementing and overseeing the project management program for the bank.
As senior vice president and chief information officer, Royal will oversee training programs for upgrades and system changes, ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, and lead the hiring and training of IT Department staff. She will also manage the implementation and maintenance of existing information systems and will develop the bank’s IT roadmap for the future.