This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Eastern Bank. The opinions and text are all mine.
Picture yourself dropped off in a country that is very foreign to you. Perhaps you don’t speak the language. You’re not familiar with the local customs. You don’t have a job or a means of support? What would you do? How would you feel?
Many immigrants who come to this country are faced with these challenges. Members of my family want to immigrate to the US, but they have concerns about how they will fit in.
My Unique Family
Believe it or not, I have a step mother, an adopted brother and a little sister who all live in Thailand. About 12 years ago, my father, long since divorced from my mother, traveled to Thailand for vacation. He became enamored with the country and planned a return trip the following year. On that second trip, he met a woman named Narree and they fell in love. They were married and he moved to Thailand permanently. He adopted her son and they had a little girl.
For years, I’ve wanted my father to move his family to America. He has considered it, but he’s concerned about how my step mother will feel. Her English is not very good so he does not want her to feel alienated. He also wants his son, Champ, and my sister, Lanna to come to America for a better education.
Knowing that my father really wants to make this happen, I did some research on where he and his family might find support in my area. I found the Asian-American Civic Association of Boston. They provide a wide range of services including English classes, social services, job training, college prep and more. All of these services can help Narree, Champ and Lanna in some way.
How Eastern Bank Helps
Through their newly launched “Join Us For Good” movement, Eastern Bank has provided a targeted grant to the AACA for workforce development programs. I’m so happy that Eastern Bank cares so much about local charities like the AACA. Their programs can help my step mom with her English, job placement, and the immigration process. U.S. College prep classes and youth groups can help my brother Champ. Housing counseling can help my father find a place to live for his family since he’s on a fixed retirement income.
Eastern Bank supports so many wonderful organizations in our area by giving back though the Join Us For Good movement. This year alone, Eastern Bank’s Charitable Foundation awarded over $1.5 million in grants to local nonprofits that address a variety of issues facing immigrants. This includes everything from people seeking asylum to basic adult education.
What can you do to make a difference?
Do you know someone who might benefit from ACAA programs? Visit their website for more information. Learn more about Easter Bank’s #JoinUsForGood movement at JoinUsForGood.com
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Eastern Bank. The opinions and text are all mine.
Comments submitted may be displayed on other websites owned by the sponsoring brand.
These are really great programs for the immigrant communities. Also, a great way to help and make a difference. Thanks for sharing this!
This is so amazing. Moving somewhere new can be scary and this is so nice.
Eastern Bank seems to offer a good program and wonderful resources. I will look into supporting them.
What a great program! I am so supporting this cause!
I’m so glad you found them some support. Further, I’m really glad they are choosing to do it the legal way so they don’t risk getting deported and the horrible mess that could be. I hope everything goes well for them.
This is such a great cause! So many people feel like if they were to go to a different country they would not fit in. We need to change that.
What a wonderful program. This is something that every American needs to know about. I am happy to see this as a program so that more good can happen in the world.
What a unique story about your family. My father was a immigrant from Portugual at the age of 8. He got his Citizenship when he was 28 years old.
That is a great story too!
What a wonderful program. I can’t imagine the issues faced with moving to a new country.
It would be so overwhelming to move to a new country. I like to support businesses that help give back. This sounds like a great program. I hope your Dad and family are able to move closer to you.
Me too. I’m glad I found him resources that can help.
This is a great program! I do know a lot of people that have immigrated to this country and just had no idea what to expect as far as learning the language or even learning the culture. This is a good bridge for that.
This is so great! We need more companies doing more good in the world. This really warms my heart.
I agree. I am proud to work with them.
Eastern Bank sounds like a great institution. I love when banks offer their services to worthy causes!