It was an unforgettable evening of connection and gratitude as Bridgewater Bank teamed up with Artful Living Magazine to host Bridgewater’s 3rd annual Gratitude Gathering. The event, complete with local, women-owned vendors, celebrated women business owners, entrepreneurs, and leaders in the Twin Cities, gathered everyone together for a night to inspire, connect, support one another, and give back.
“Pausing to focus on gratitude, connection, and giving back is more important than ever in seasons where the hustle and bustle never seems to stop,” shares Mary Jayne Crocker, Executive Vice President & Chief Strategy Officer at Bridgewater Bank. “The highlight of the night was coming together to assemble self-care kits for Dress for Success Twin Cities. It was a powerful reminder of the impact we can create through community and collaboration.”
At the event, 120 care packages were packed up for Dress for Success, an organization that helps unemployed and underemployed women achieve economic independence. Add to that, 367 pounds of gently used clothing were also donated to the organization during the evening.
Providing opportunities for connection is one of the things Bridgewater does best. The bank was built with the vision to challenge the status quo, providing an unconventional banking experience and opportunities for employees and clients alike to grow and thrive. And those values are still ever present, continuing to drive and inspire the team at Bridgewater every day.
“From the very beginning, we’ve been intentional about cultivating our unconventional, people-first culture at Bridgewater Bank,” says Mary Jayne. “Giving back as a team not only aligns with our culture – it strengthens it.”
Bridgewater makes giving back a priority, even creating their Volunteer Time Off program, which provides employees with 16 hours of paid time off per year for volunteerism related to housing and education initiatives, a passion-point for Bridgewater. “Giving back is not only important – it’s very rewarding. I’ve experienced that personally, and we’ve seen that in our team as well,” reflects Mary Jayne. “It’s inspiring to see our team members’ passion for the community and the differences many of them are making throughout the Twin Cities.”
The Gratitude Gathering event is just a taste of the countless ways the team at Bridgewater gives back to the community. In the past few months, Bridgewater packed 9,288 meals with locally-based Meals From the Heart, providing meals to neighbors in need, mentored high school students through BestPrep’s eMentors program, teaching essential financial skills and habits for future success when they’re out on their own, and sponsored seven kids through the Adopt-A-Family Toy Drive with the Link.
Bridgewater’s impact in the community and commitment to making a difference is also felt by their clients. Through their Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) efforts, the team at Bridgewater works with non-profit organizations that contribute to housing and education initiatives. Bridgewater partners in these efforts through volunteerism, sponsorships, and lending services. In 2023, the bank originated $88 million in community development loans, supporting affordable housing and revitalization projects, including Low-Income Housing Tax Credit properties.
“It’s special when we can give back as a team and when we can partner with clients to make a difference,” shares Mary Jayne. “As a local bank, we live and work in the communities we serve, and we are dedicated to doing our part to help those in our community thrive.”
From employees and clients to community impact, Bridgewater’s people-first culture is more than just a value — it's at the heart of everything they do.
Learn more: https://bridgewaterbankmn.com/
From the very beginning, we’ve been intentional about cultivating our unconventional, people-first culture at Bridgewater Bank.