Southcoast Centers gets $300K gift

FALL RIVER – Mechanics Cooperative Bank has committed to a gift of $300,000 to support the Southcoast Centers for Cancer Care in Fairhaven, a new outpatient facility that is scheduled to open in April.
The new center will ensure coordinated, high-quality, streamlined care for cancer patients and their families, bringing together state-of-the-art radiation therapy and medical oncology, such as chemotherapy, to meet the growing needs of the region’s cancer patients, hospital officials said.
The gift by Mechanics Cooperative Bank, which has served southeastern Massachusetts for more than 130 years, is the largest single gift given in the bank’s history
“As a native of the South Coast region, I understand the tremendous community service this state-of-the-art cancer care facility will provide,” said Joseph T. Baptista Jr., president and CEO of Mechanics Cooperative Bank. “Residents will now have the opportunity to receive quality treatment at a local facility, close to home, and close to their families
The construction of the new facility will create about 250 temporary construction jobs over the life of the project, according to hospital officials. The center will employ about 55 staff, of which about 40 will be permanent new clinical and support jobs.
“The Southcoast Centers for Cancer Care is built on the dedication of the caregivers that care for our patients everyday and the generosity of our community members who recognize the importance of this much needed service,” said Keith A. Hovan, president of Southcoast Health System and president and CEO of Southcoast Hospitals Group.