Jeans day gets toys for kids.

• Position: NEWS

Byline: Ellie Oleson

COLUMN: TELEGRAM & GAZETTE SANTA

Bay State Savings Bank employees wore jeans to work on the last three Fridays of 2010, proving once again that they are "champions for children."

Each employee earned the right to wear jeans by making a $5 donation to the bank's Champions for Children program, with all $1,500 in proceeds going to the Telegram & Gazette Santa Fund.

Diane M. Giampa, senior vice president for human resources and marketing at the bank's 30 Franklin St. office in Worcester, said the bank takes pride in supporting worthy charities.

"We want to support programs in our neighborhoods. The Telegram & Gazette is our neighbor, located right next door to us on Franklin Street," she said.

Other neighbors who have benefited from the bank's generosity include the American Red Cross Haitian Children's Relief Fund, ForgeWorks Farm's therapeutic programs for special needs children, the Nazareth School in Leicester, South Worcester Neighborhood Improvement Corporation, Massachusetts Adoption Resources Exchange, Literacy Volunteers of Massachusetts, Rachel's Table, Auburn Youth & Family Services, Girls Inc., Friendly House, Boy Scouts of America, NEADS Dogs for Deaf and Disabled Americans and the Nativity School of Worcester.

"The bank and its employees are very generous," Ms. Giampa said.

She said she was one of the more than 100 employees who wore jeans to work to support the T&G Santa this year. The bank also held a Facebook fundraiser for Santa, adding to the overall donation for each additional on-line "like" posted on the bank's Facebook site between Dec. 3 and Christmas Eve.

Ms. Giampa said, "It was very successful. We doubled the number of our fans on Facebook, and the children benefited."

In its 72nd year, the T&G Santa Fund collects thousands of donations from generous readers and area residents to help buy toys for children in need in Central Massachusetts.

Children 12 and younger who would otherwise not receive any holiday gifts are eligible to receive two toys each. Area agencies that participate include: the Salvation Army, Catholic Charities Family and Children's Services of Southbridge, Gardner Community Action Committee, WHEAT Community Services and Winchendon Community Action Committee.

Anyone who wishes to contribute to the fund can do so by clipping and filling out the form in the newspaper and mailing it to Telegram & Gazette Santa Fund, c/o Commerce Bank, P.O. Box 15204, Worcester, MA 01615-0204 or by...