Project Purple, foundation partner on fund

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Ion Bank President and CEO Charles Boulier III, left, and Project Purple founder and CEO Dino Verrelli talk Nov. 17 outside of Ion Bank on Church Street in Naugatuck. The Ion Bank Foundation recently created a fund to help people battling pancreatic cancer. Project Purple will oversee the fund. –LUKE MARSHALL
Ion Bank President and CEO Charles Boulier III, left, and Project Purple founder and CEO Dino Verrelli talk Nov. 17 outside of Ion Bank on Church Street in Naugatuck. The Ion Bank Foundation recently created a fund to help people battling pancreatic cancer. Project Purple will oversee the fund. –LUKE MARSHALL

NAUGATUCK — The Ion Bank Foundation and Project Purple have teamed up to help people affected by pancreatic cancer.

The foundation last week announced the creation of a fund to help people fighting pancreatic cancer.

“We have a big community commitment as part of our mission to be a great corporate citizen. So Project Purple fits right in with our mission to help those in need, those affected by cancer,” Ion Bank President and CEO Charles Boulier III said.

Project Purple is a Beacon Falls-based nonprofit organization that is dedicated to raising awareness and funds toward a cure for pancreatic cancer.

People or families in the communities with an Ion Bank presence can apply for money from the fund through Project Purple, which will be administering the fund.

“We have a patient aid fund that helps families all over the country. But this fund will help families affected within the Ion Bank community,” Project Purple founder and CEO Dino Verrelli said.

Boulier said the foundation chose to work with Project Purple because Ion Bank Vice President Kevin King is a pancreatic cancer survivor.

“[Project Purple] has really helped people in need because pancreatic cancer needs research funds. So people who have it need help but also we have to find a cure because survival rates are pretty low,” Boulier said.

For more information, visit www.run4projectpurple.org.