Washington Trust Pledges Support for Kent Center Campaign

John C. Warren (left), chairman and chief executive officer of Washington Trust, recently presented a check for twenty-five thousand dollars to David S. Lauterbach(right), president and CEO of The Kent Center. Photo by Charlene Ferranti.

February 27, 2009 (Westerly, RI). . .The Washington Trust Charitable Foundation has pledged its support for The Campaign for The Kent Center’s New Home with a gift of $25,000 payable over two-years. The Kent Center’s goal is to raise $1.6 million to purchase the new building, which it currently leases at 2756 Post Road in Warwick.

Kent Center staff and volunteers had the opportunity to thank Washington Trust Chairman and CEO, John C. Warren, during his visit to the Center on February 10th. Warren toured The Kent Center’s new flagship building, and then made a visit to the Center’s Hillsgrove House, where he joined members, staff and other guests for lunch.

“The Kent Center’s new home provides the organization with an opportunity to become efficient and highly effective at a time where funding is decreasing and the demand for services is increasing,” said John C. Warren, Washington Trust chairman and chief executive officer.

“We are thrilled that Washington Trust is so generously supporting our Campaign,” stated Kent Center CEO David Lauterbach. “And to have John Warren spend so much time with us was a true honor.”

Established in 1976, The Kent Center provides a wide range of mental health and substance abuse treatment service to nearly 4,000 men, women, children and families annually. To learn more about The Campaign for The Kent Center’s New Home, please log onto www.thekentcenter.org or call 691-6000, x335.

The Washington Trust Company is a subsidiary of Washington Trust Bancorp, Inc., a $3.0 billion corporation headquartered in Westerly, Rhode Island. Founded in 1800, Washington Trust is the oldest community bank in the nation and is the largest independent bank headquartered in Rhode Island. A state-chartered bank, Washington Trust offers a full range of financial services, including business banking, personal banking, and wealth management and trust services, through its offices located in Rhode Island, southeastern Connecticut and Massachusetts. The Corporation's common stock trades on The NASDAQ Stock Market under the symbol WASH. Web site address: www.washtrust.com.Corporation's common stock trades on The NASDAQ Stock Market under the symbol WASH. Web site address: www.washtrust.com.