Students bank on annual Disney World trip

Every year, Cushing graduates have the opportunity to create lasting memories at one of the most magical places on earth, thanks to the hard work of those organizing the annual St. Patrick’s Day Dinner and Auction, sponsored by South Shore Bank.

This year’s event, which featured food, entertainment, and auctions, raised more than $157,000. The funding allows for graduating seniors to go on a fully-paid vacation to Walt Disney World. This trip has become a milestone event that Cushing students look forward to for years, and for many, it is their first vacation.

South Shore Bank has been the premier sponsor of this event since 2007, and a group of employees, led by President and CEO Jim Dunphy, serve on a planning committee to run the event. The bank’s philosophy is “your community is our community,” so employees feel a personal responsibility to help the businesses and people of South Shore thrive by giving their time, talents, and service.

“I take immense pride in leading an exceptional organization and team at South Shore Bank, dedicated to giving back to our community,” said Dunphy. “By building strong relationships with our clients and the South Shore community, we can create a real and positive impact of shared success. Our longtime support for Cardinal Cushing Centers and the Trip of a Lifetime program truly demonstrates our dedication to their vital work, and highlights the important role our bank plays in our region.”

The planning committee this year included Dunphy; Jane Barry, banking center officer; Cindy Bovaird, consumer loan officer; Jane Bowman, chief marketing officer; Nikki Corbo, marketing specialist; Joe Dahlstrom, facilities manager and banking officer; Scott Ewing, director of project and process management; Joanne Tully, community relations officer. Travel consultant and certified autism travel professional Holly Roberts, whose daughter attended Cushing and who has been involved in the trip since 1997, also served on the committee, along with John Troupe of Troupe Waste Services.

The 10 committee members worked for months to ensure the event was a success, and 13 other volunteers assisted during the event.

Corbo, who was hired by the bank last May, took a lead role in organizing many of the details.

“The most rewarding part of the event was seeing the kids there and witnessing their joy and infectious energy,” said Corbo. “Their excitement emulated from the inside out and set the tone for the entire event. The students who performed in the chorus were so excited, and it was amazing getting to speak with them before their performance and hearing how proud they were of their song. The genuine happiness of the students, and their excitement about the event and the trip is a testament of how great the programs at Cardinal Cushing are.”