FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Elizabeth Eckel, SVP Marketing, 401-348-1309
DATE: December 6, 2005

Washington Trust Donates Furniture and Equipment to Schools and Nonprofits

Westerly, Rhode Island... Washington Trust recently donated some much-needed items to Tollgate High School's social studies department for its classrooms and office. Items included office furniture, end tables, storage cabinets, filing cabinets, a bookshelf unit and some shelving from Washington Trust's warehouse.

Washington Trust has an In-Kind Donation program that provides the opportunity to nonprofit agencies and schools to make use of furniture and equipment the Bank is no longer using.

"The donated furniture from Washington Trust is greatly appreciated. They help make the classrooms and the office in the social studies department more functional and presentable," said Joseph M. Coffey, department chair, social studies department, Tollgate High School. "Most of the funding we receive is earmarked for instructional
supplies and initiatives to meet state and federal mandates, so we're very grateful for donations such as this from Washington Trust."

"Washington Trust is happy to help out schools and nonprofits any way we can," said John C. Warren, chairman and CEO of The Washington Trust Company. "Donating furniture and equipment we no longer use is a great way to both help the community and to reuse and recycle useful items," Warren added.

Other organizations that have benefited from Washington Trust's In-Kind donations include: Friends Way, The Greater Westerly-Pawcatuck Area Chamber of Commerce, Pleasant Street Baptist Church, South County Conservancy, Town of Charlestown, USS Saratoga Museum and Westerly Public Schools.

Any nonprofit agency, school or government office interested in Washington Trust's In-Kind Donation program should contact Walter Chamberlain, Washington Trust, at 348-1421.

Tollgate High School loads their truck with donated furniture and equipment from Washington Trust at the Bank's warehouse: Left to Right are: Joseph M. Coffey, chair, social studies department, Tollgate High School; Melinda M. Hill, public and community relations coordinator, Washington Trust, and Robert Toole (standing in the truck) and Jim Farley, Warwick Public Schools.