Penn Community Bank, the largest independent mutual bank in eastern Pennsylvania, joined the County of Bucks and United Way of Bucks County in designating March 2024 ALICE Awareness Month.

ALICE, an acronym that stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed, represents the 27 percent of Bucks County individuals and families who earn above the federal poverty level but still struggle to make ends meet.

“The ALICE population represents hardworking families who are employed yet struggling financially,” said Jeane M. Vidoni, president and CEO of Penn Community Bank. “This proclamation is an important step in raising awareness of ALICE’s challenges and reducing the stigma around financial insecurity. As a true community bank, we are committed to supporting ALICE through affordable banking, financial education, and empowering partnerships – including with the United Way and the County of Bucks. Local banks play a vital role in serving the often overlooked ALICE population; by working together, we can build a more equitable community where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.”

“We are thrilled to be shining a spotlight on the challenges faced by ALICE households,” said Marissa Christie, President and CEO of United Way of Bucks County. “At United Way, our programs are designed to help ALICE – and to ensure that they can remain stably employed. Now we have the opportunity to educate community members about how they can help, too.”

Throughout the month of March, United Way of Bucks County will release a series of video testimonials featuring local ALICE families, including Rachel: a medical receptionist and single mom who participated in the LIFT United program, a collaboration between Penn Community Bank, the United Way of Bucks County, the County of Bucks, and Credit Counseling Center. After receiving financial coaching, Rachel qualified for help with a down payment and a used car loan backed by United Way. “Because of United Way, I have stability in my life,” she said.

United Way of Bucks County will also host the ALICE Experience, an immersive learning simulation, on Mar. 12th at Vault Brewing in Yardley. United Way staff will guide small groups through the month-long story of an ALICE family, including the financial decisions they must make. Community members are welcome to attend the ALICE Experience.

Learn more about ALICE Awareness Month events and initiatives, Penn Community Bank, and United Way of Bucks County.

Penn Community Bank holds over $2.7 billion in assets, employs more than 300 people, and offers banking and lending services at financial centers throughout Bucks and Montgomery counties, Pennsylvania. It operates with its long-term mission in mind: to help businesses grow and prosper, to provide financial resources to individuals and families throughout their lifetimes, to strengthen the local economy, and to partner with local organizations to act as a catalyst for positive growth in every market it serves.

Since 1952, UW Bucks has been improving lives in Bucks County by uniting donors, advocates, and volunteers around the common good. United Way programs focus on the building blocks of a good life: a quality education, a stable income, and good health.