The chamber is starting off 2019 with a strong foundation of support across all pillars of the business and nonprofit community: banks, hospitals, financial firms, entertainment and retail destinations, higher ed and media have all signed on to partner with the chamber.

Our annual partners underwrite our events, programming, website, staff and economic initiatives. Several member businesses and nonprofits return annually to provide significant and secure funding for all we do here at our very busy- and once again the state’s fastest growing – chamber.

Our partners choose sponsor opportunities that align with their company’s message and community profile and count on the chamber to get their message out to the business community through our web, print, email, event and social media marketing channels.

As part of its commitment to helping support businesses – and the local economy – The Village Bank has once again pledged its support to the chamber at the highest Platinum donation level. “The Chamber has been so vital in not only providing support, education, advocacy, and networking opportunities to businesses, but also in enhancing the economic and cultural quality of life in the community. The Village Bank is proud to continue to help support a variety of initiatives to help the Chamber carry out its mission,” said “Joseph A. De Vito, president and CEO of The Village Bank.

Among those initiatives is the Annual Children’s Charitable Golf Tournament, in which the bank will once again serve as title sponsor. The bank will also underwrite the Chamber’s Women in Networking Committee, which helps create opportunities for women-owned businesses and foster support for all professional women.In addition, a significant portion of the bank’s donation will be used toward the Chamber’s N2 Innovation District initiative.

“The Village Bank has been proud to be an active member of the Chamber for more than 70 years, and to do our part to ensure that businesses – and all members of the community – benefit from the programs, advocacy, and support it provides year after year.”

Needham Bank returns at the next highest Emerald Level and will continue as the presenting sponsor of our Annual Achievement Breakfast, the chamber’s marquee fall event. The bank also continues its commitment to the economic and cultural vitality of its namesake town by its return as the premier sponsor of our Needham Night awards dinner and the spring and fall street fairs that take place in Needham Center and draw thousands of local residents to the town common.

For the first time this year, Direct Federal Credit Union joins the Newton-Wellesley Hospital, Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital- Needham and Wellesley Bank as Diamond Annual Sponsors. Direct Federal comes on board as sponsor of the very active Real Estate Committee and also lends generous support to the two Needham town fairs.

Newton-Wellesley partners with us on several of our marquee events to reach our largest audience as part of their broad community messaging. They’ll be back as the title sponsor of our popular Spring Seasonings tasting event on April 8, while continuing to support our golf tournament and annual fall breakfast.

Like Needham Bank, BID-Needham focuses much of its sponsor package on its home community. A co-presenter of the Needham street fairs, and an event sponsor of both Needham Night and the May 3 Spring Business Breakfast, both at the Sheraton Needham hotel, this chamber support is just one piece of the hospital’s larger community outreach.

Wellesley Bank returns as the title sponsor of our Nonprofit Committee, underwriting the programming and networking opportunities for our 100-plus nonprofit member organizations. The bank also returns as the lead sponsor of our consistently well-attended monthly Small Business Seminars, and continues its support of the chamber’s Shop Local messaging to support buying, dining, banking and giving local.

For the third year in a row, Century Bank will sponsor our most-popular and ever-growing monthly networking Coffee Connects, bringing together 70 plus networkers first thing in the morning, and The Bulfinch Group moves a significant portion of its sponsor dollars to our Young Professionals Group, looking to align itself with the up-and-comers of the business community.

Eastern Bank returns as the presenting sponsor of the chamber’s Spring Business Breakfast featuring the Green Business Awards as part of its May-long multipronged focus on small business and its commitment to sustainability.

The chamber welcomes two new Gold Level Partners in 2019. Briarwood Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center will combine its presenting sponsorship of the Needham street fairs with additional support of our annual Spring Seasonings tasting event to reach annual partner status for year-round marketing visibility.

And Lasell College will look to the chamber to raise awareness of both its undergraduate and graduate program offerings and showcase the additions to its Newton campus by hosting a workshop or two. “Lasell College has enjoyed a longstanding relationship with the Chamber. We have seen firsthand, the positive effect they have had on our community,” said Eric Turner, Vice President of Graduate & Professional Studies. “For more than 160 years, Lasell has been proud to call Newton home and we are incredibly excited to work with the Chamber to help foster the next generation of leaders, makers and thinkers.”

Cambridge Savings Bank kicked off its 2019 sponsor package by being the title sponsor of the chamber’s New Year’s Bash held at UMass Amherst’s new campus at the former Mt. Ida. NBC10 Boston will once again add its support to our Spring Seasonings event and the Annual Business Breakfasts. William James College, ALL CPAs, One Wingate Way, The Street Chestnut Hill and Showcase SuperLux are all returning with their crucial support of our ambitious marquee events as well as the important underwriting help towards the educational programming and economic advocacy that’s an integral part of the chamber’s mission.

The chamber thanks our partners which through their generous financial support have made this past year of unprecedented growth possible while ensuring we can continue the depth, quality and quantity of programming our members have come to expect.

Chamber sponsorships are available throughout the year. We’ll work with you to create a meaningful partnership through a series, a program or a single event. We’ll use our marketing reach through the much-visited chamber website, our targeted email blasts, the direct-mailed bimonthly chamber news publication and our well-attended events to help deliver your message to the local professional community.

For more information about annual partnerships, click here or contact me for the full package of 2019 Member Annual Partnership Opportunities. I’m always available to explore the many ways you can put the chamber to work for your company.

Lise Elcock is the chamber’s membership director.