DURHAM, N.H. – University of New Hampshire Athletics and its multimedia rights partner, Wildcat Sports Properties, announced today they have entered into a brand-new, three-year partnership with Kennebunk Savings. The relationship enables the two organizations to further their shared mission of connecting people in their community.
Beginning this year, Kennebunk Savings will be presenting sponsor of the inaugural “Wildcats in the Community” initiative, designed to showcase the significant community-based accomplishments of UNH student-athletes. This program aligns with Kennebunk Savings’ wide-ranging commitment to the community which includes a pledge to contribute 10% or more of its annual earnings to local charitable organizations, as well as offering its many enthusiastic employees as volunteers. Last year alone, Kennebunk Savings employees volunteered more than 8,500 hours at various nonprofit organizations.
Marketing support for the initiative will be ongoing throughout the year and will be complemented by a “Wildcats in the Community” campaign which includes radio, television and social media. Additionally, the program will have a dedicated landing page on the official athletics website, www.UNHWildcats.com.
“We’re excited to set in motion an official relationship with UNH, its student-athletes, athletic administration, fans, alumni and campus community,” said Bradford C. Paige, President and CEO of Kennebunk Savings. “The ‘Wildcats in the Community’ program is perfectly customized for us and mirrors our mission of being greatly involved in the community and giving back. We’re pleased to get underway with “Wildcats in the Community” and recognize the student-athletes who work so hard in in their sport, as well as in their community.”
A broader benefit of Kennebunk Savings’ UNH Athletics partnership – effective 2013-14 through 2015-16 – also includes yearlong brand visibility through Wildcat radio, signage, in-game promotion at hockey games and at all sports.
“Our new partnership with Kennebunk Savings is terrific, and we’re pleased to marry their core values of community involvement and investing and connecting with people with the wonderful programs and community service projects our student-athletes are involved in,” said UNH Coordinator of Student-Athlete Development Cathy Coakley. “We’re grateful for their backing of the ‘Wildcats in the Community’ initiative so we can leverage what an inspiration these student-athletes have been to so many in our immediate area.”
Kennebunk Savings is an independent and mutual community bank and a full-service financial institution for retail and commercial customers that employs nearly 300 people. With sixteen branches throughout York County, Maine and seacoast New Hampshire, the Bank’s branch network includes three New Hampshire offices in Portsmouth, Dover and their newest location in Hampton. Kennebunk Savings, with over $860 million in assets, contributes 10 percent or more of its annual earnings each year to local charitable organizations through its Community Promise program.
Wildcat Sports Properties is a property of Learfield Sports, which manages multimedia rights for more than 50 collegiate institutions and associations and titles the Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup with co-founders NACDA and USA Today. Its exclusive sports programming reaches more than 50 million television households nationally and delivers nearly 17,000 hours of radio programming on more than 1,100 radio stations. To learn more about Learfield’s 40-year history, comprehensive collegiate portfolio, and involvement with collegiate ticketing or concessions, visit www.learfieldsports.com.