Portsmouth, NH – Partners Bank is sponsoring The Birchtree Center’s 13th Annual Benefit for Learning Auction on November 2nd at the Regatta Banquet & Conference Center in Eliot, ME, with a $1,000 donation. Proceeds from the Auction will be used to purchase therapeutic equipment, teaching technology, classroom supplies, and other essentials for The Birchtree Center’s autism programs.

Based in Portsmouth, NH, The Birchtree Center is a nonprofit organization that helps those with behavior challenges, autism, and other disabilities build full and productive lives. The donation from Partners Bank will directly help students practice and prepare for Halloween, Thanksgiving, and other holiday celebrations. It will also help fund their school prom, which is open for students, families, and alumni.

Inspired by the New Hampshire state tree that grows in clusters to survive, The Birchtree Center believes in surrounding people with autism and behavior challenges with love and support from their family, teachers, and community members so they can flourish like the birch tree. To help students achieve this growth, they provide Day School and Outreach Programs.

The Day School is in Portsmouth and is the only school in New Hampshire that exclusively serves autistic children and youth. The scope of The Birchtree Center’s services also extends beyond the seacoast city as they offer in-person services in Southern New Hampshire, Southern Maine, and Northern Massachusetts. Their Outreach Programs, which includes Behavior Consultation for Families, is offered to ages three and up.

This is the second year that Partners Bank has supported the Benefit for Learning Auction. This cause resonates with Laila Miller, Market Manager for Partners Bank in Portsmouth, who is honored to be involved again.

“I visited their Learning Center last year. I had the privilege of understanding how patient the educators are each and every day in coping with special needs students with autism and helping them to be independent in their school and in the community. It takes a special person to teach the students how to adapt and live in the real world,” Miller shares of her experience with The Birchtree Center. “Last year, I personally contributed and delivered two trays of food to their students’ Thanksgiving Feast. It was such a great feeling to see the happy faces enjoying a meal.”

Partners Bank is proud to contribute to the betterment of the lives of those with autism and other disabilities. To learn more about The Birchtree Center and the Benefit for Learning Auction, visit birchtreecenter.org.

About Partners Bank:

Partners Bank was founded in 1933 and is headquartered in Sanford, Maine, with additional Maine branch locations in Springvale, South Sanford, Limerick, Buxton, Waterboro, Wells and York, as well as New Hampshire branch locations in Portsmouth, Rye, and Kingston. Partners Bank is a mutual savings bank that operates solely for the benefit of its deposit and loan customers and is focused on giving back to the communities where it serves. Deposits are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.  Partners Bank is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Equal Housing Lender. For more information, please visit their eBranch at partners.bank, Facebok page at Facebook.com/PartnersBankOnline or call 1-888-226-5747.