CONTACT: Elizabeth Eckel, SVP Marketing, 401-348-1309
DATE: January 6, 2005
Washington Trust Donates $10,000 to Benefit Tsunami Victims - Bank Establishes Fund to Collect Donations
Westerly, Rhode Island... The Washington Trust Company has made a $10,000 contribution to a fund the Bank has established with the American Red Cross to benefit the victims of the recent earthquake and tsunami in Asia. The Bank has also announced that it is collecting contributions for the fund at each of the Bank's sixteen branch offices located throughout Rhode Island and southeastern Connecticut."Washington Trust, its employees and customers are deeply affected by this tragedy and are committed to helping the victims and their families," stated John C. Warren, Washington Trust Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "More and more, the global society is becoming a part of our local community and we're here to show that we can make a difference in the world."
"The American Red Cross Rhode Island Chapter is pleased to
be working with Washington Trust during this tragic time,"
said Daniel S. Samborn, Chief Executive Officer for the American
Red Cross Rhode Island Chapter. "The outpouring of support
from Rhode Islanders and from Americans across this great nation
is tremendous. We are proud to do our part to help those in greatest
need."
Contributions can be made at any of Washington Trust's sixteen branches
throughout Rhode Island and Connecticut. Checks should be made payable
to "American Red Cross Rhode Island Chapter," with a memo
notation to "Tsunami Relief."
Washington Trust is also working with students from Westerly High
School to sell ribbon bracelets with proceeds going to the American
Red Cross fund. Anne Barnhart, a teacher at Westerly High School,
coordinated the program. According to Barnhart, "The students
are part of an Advisory Program here at the school. It was their
idea to make the bracelets and donate the funds to the Red Cross."
The bracelets will be on sale beginning January 11th in Washington
Trust's Westerly branch offices.
The Washington Trust Company is the largest independent bank headquartered
in Rhode Island. A state-chartered bank, Washington Trust offers
a full range of financial services, including trust and investment
management, through its 16 branch offices located in Rhode Island
and southeastern Connecticut. Founded in 1800, the Bank is a subsidiary
of Washington Trust Bancorp, Inc., whose common stock trades on
The NASDAQ Stock Market® under the symbol WASH. Web site address:
www.washtrust.com.
