Cape and Islands United Way Welcomes Erik Porter to Board of Directors

capeandcoastbk on January 6, 2025

Erik Porter headshot - professional headshot of Erik Porter, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer with The CoopThe Cape and Islands United Way has welcomed Erik Porter to its Board of Directors. Erik Porter is the Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Treasurer of Cape & Coast Bank. He has previously served as a board member of the Boston Chapter of the Financial Manager’s Society and The Family Pantry of Cape Cod.

“The Cape and Islands United Way is a vital social impact organization dedicated to serving our region, and I am truly honored to join its board of directors,” said Erik. “I look forward to collaborating with fellow board members, donors, and volunteers to address the critical needs of our local community—focusing on health, education, housing, and economic stability.”

Erik is an accomplished financial services industry executive with more than two decades of experience. He’s previously held senior leadership roles at Metro Credit Union, Cape Cod Five Cents Savings Bank, CFGI, Wainwright Bank & Trust and Wolf & Company P.C. Erik holds a bachelor’s degree with concentrations in accounting, finance, and economics from Western New England College. He is also an honors graduate of the American Bankers Association (ABA) Stonier Graduate School of Banking, where he also earned the Wharton Leadership Certificate from The Wharton School, Aresty Institute of Executive Education at the University of Pennsylvania.

“We are thrilled to welcome Erik to our Board of Directors,” said Mark Skala, President of CIUW. “With his decades of experience in the financial sector and true passion for doing good in our local community, we have no doubt that Erik will offer invaluable insights and expertise as a Board Director. As we enter 2025, we are eager to continue to make relevant, sustainable community impact possible and improve the lives of those who call the Cape and Islands home.”

2024 Holiday Giving

capeandcoastbk on December 6, 2024

volunteers shopped for Dress a Live Doll

Employees volunteered to shop for children via The Salvation Army’s Dress a Live Doll program.

Paying It Forward

In 2024, we raised about $26,000 through our employee-managed #PayingItForward Program to help 26 nonprofit organizations. For the past 14 years, our employees have supported local nonprofit organizations in our community by wearing jeans at work.

Every other Friday, employees donate a minimum of $5, and an organization is designated as the beneficiary. The organizations are nominated by employees and selected by the employee-based Pay It Forward committee. The only criteria for nominations is that the organization be affiliated with Cape Cod and a registered 501(c)3.

This holiday season, our employees worked in teams to use #PayItForward funds for the following holiday community programs:

employees helped put together and deliver holiday meals in MashpeeHoliday Meal Deliveries

The Mashpee Chamber of Commerce is proud to organize and deliver holiday dinners to home-bound and in-need Mashpee residents. This year, our sponsorship helped with the cost of the meals. Our team also joined in to help make the deliveries!

Meals On Wheels

For the past 11 years, the Bank has provided holiday cards to be distributed with the Meals on Wheels deliveries for seniors served by the Barnstable Senior Center. We also have employees who volunteer to deliver meals on a weekly basis throughout the year.

#GivingTuesday

Our decade-long tradition of supporting local food pantries on Giving Tuesday expanded this year to include food distribution organizations in all 15 towns in Barnstable County.

Food pantries receiving $1,000 donations include:

Two pantries received an adjusted $500 Giving Tuesday donation. Both Friends Food Pantry in Bourne and Falmouth Service Center in Falmouth applied for and received grants from The Coop Foundation to help defray the cost of purchasing frozen meats, fresh produce and dairy items for their clients.

The Coop has also donated $3,000 to Lower Cape Outreach Council for its food pantries in Brewster, Chatham, Eastham, Orleans and Wellfleet. The additional $2,000 is a directed gift from two retiring trustees of The Coop Foundation.

Organizations providing food support to larger regions of the Cape are also part of the Giving Tuesday donations, including  the AIDS Support Group of Cape Cod food pantries in Hyannis and Provincetown, Family Table Collaborative, Sustainable CAPE, and Cape Kid Meals.

Scott Kwarta Appointed to Friends or Relatives with Autism and Related Disabilities (F.O.R.W.A.R.D.) board

capeandcoastbk on May 13, 2024

Scott Kwarta headshotCape & Coast Bank has announced that Chief Operating and Risk Officer Scott Kwarta has been appointed to the Board of Directors for Friends or Relatives with Autism and Related Disabilities (F.O.R.W.A.R.D.), a Dennis-based nonprofit focused on building affordable housing for adults with autism.

Kwarta, an accomplished professional with more than 25 years of experience in senior roles at several leading financial institutions in New England, will serve as treasurer and chief of the finance committee during his tenure on the F.O.R.W.A.R.D. Board of Directors.

“Our F.O.R.W.A.R.D. at the Rock housing project for adults with autism draws upon support from Cape towns, allied nonprofit organizations and fundraising efforts,” said Kathy Ohman, President of F.O.R.W.A.R.D. “Scott’s devotion to philanthropy and community service, along with his financial expertise, will catalyze what F.O.R.W.A.R.D. is able to accomplish for adults with autism in our community and ensure they can thrive in a safe and healthy environment. His work here will touch a lot of lives.”

“F.O.R.W.A.R.D. is a remarkable organization, and I look forward to serving on its Board of Directors to help advance its mission and expand its presence in the region,” said Kwarta. “F.O.R.W.A.R.D. is meeting a critical need to provide therapeutic, supportive home environments that greatly improve quality of life for residents.”

Kwarta, of Falmouth, is a certified public accountant and holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Fordham University. He also serves on the Board of Directors of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cape Cod & the Islands.