Skip to main content
Enter search terms below…

Member News

Pioneer’s Grand Carnival Welcomes 1,000 Attendees, Raises More Than $40,000 to Support Nonprofits ‘Helping Kids be Kids’



Pioneer Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ: PBFS) (“Pioneer”), a leading financial institution in New York’s Capital Region, today hosted more than 1,000 children and families at Pioneer Plaza for its fourth annual Grand Carnival, a day of family-friendly games, activities, food and fun that raised more than $40,000 to help children in need throughout local communities.

The signature event conducted by the Pioneer Charitable Foundation, the Grand Carnival has now raised more than $115,000 in total over four years. All funds go to support area nonprofit organizations that serve the health and welfare of children, in line with the foundation’s mission of “Helping Kids be Kids.”

Seeing children and families enjoying time together at our Grand Carnival is always inspiring. Knowing that the money we raise is ‘Helping Kids be Kids’ is priceless,” said Pioneer President and CEO Tom Amell. “My hat is off to the outstanding team at Pioneer for their passion, enthusiasm, and commitment to enhancing lives and enriching communities in the Capital Region.”

Held under a large tent at Pioneer Plaza in Colonie, NY, the event featured a host of carnival games and a variety of activities including face painting, pumpkin painting, sand art, caricatures and balloon animals. Children and families also attended magic shows, a Kids’ Dance Contest was held, and radio station B95.5 FM provided entertainment.

Established in 2018, the Pioneer Charitable Foundation has provided more than $1.2 million in financial support to nearly 400 Capital Region nonprofits that address the critical needs of children, from housing, nutrition, and health care to educational, social and recreational opportunities.  Together with financial support, Pioneer’s employees have volunteered well over 10,000 hours, and they are actively involved in selecting organizations to receive funding. 

“The Grand Carnival is truly a labor of love for our caring and dedicated team at Pioneer,” said Susan Hollister, Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer and Co-Chair of the Pioneer Charitable Foundation. “We’re delighted to bring families together for a fun-filled day, and privileged to raise money that supports children in need in our local communities.”  

The Premier Sponsor of Pioneer’s Grand Carnival was Pediatric Dental Group. Entertainment Sponsors were DePaula Auto Group, Harris Beach PLLC, Hodgson Russ LLP, and Janitronics Facility Services. Cookie Truck Sponsor was Earl B. Feiden Appliance. Game & Activity Sponsors included Belmonte Builders, Bond Schoeneck & King Attorneys, DLA Piper, Green Facility Solution, Keeler Motor Car Company, Northwestern Mutual, Platform Management, StickerMule and Tech Valley DryWall Inc. “Helping Kids be Kids” Sponsors were Bette Companies, DLC Electric LLC, Dwight Plumbing and Heating, Goldstein Auto Group, Holbrook Lumber Co., Joseph P. Mangione Inc., Mackey Electric Inc., Marcella's Appliance Center, Milliman Inc. and R.F. Peck Company.

To learn more about the Pioneer Charitable Foundation, and to make a secure online donation, visit www.pioneerny.com/community.

The Foundation has invested more than $676,834 in the Stillwater community since 2011 MALTA, N.Y., May 21, 2026 — GlobalFoundries (Nasdaq: GFS) (GF) has announced that the GF-Town of Stillwater Foundation has approved its 2026 slate of public grants totaling $45,000 benefiting local community organizations seeking to bring educational…
Great Barrington, May 20, 2026:  The Berkshire Bach Society (BBS) concludes its 2025-2026 season with Musik vor Bach:  17th c French Airs de cour, a concert of early Baroque music featuring James Reese, tenor, and Brandon Acker, Baroque guitar and lute at 3pm on Saturday, June 6, 2026, at the Unitarian Universalist Meeting of South Berkshire, 1089…
ALBANY, N.Y. – May 18, 2026 – Hundreds of volunteers from across the Capital Region came together on Monday, May 18, for 518 Day, a region-wide celebration of service led by the United Way of the Greater Capital Region and presented by CDPHP. The event once again marked the largest coordinated day of volunteerism in the region, supporting dozens…
May
27
The 1 Million Cups Monthly Meetings continue throughout 2026 in the Chamber’s second-floor conference room. Held every Wednesday, these gatherings bring…
Wednesday, May 27, from 9:00am - 10:00am
Jun
03
Join Us for a Night of Relaxation and Fun!  Escape the hustle and bustle of your workday and unwind with us at Dinosaur Bar-B-Que. Enjoy a relaxed evening…
Wednesday, June 3, from 5:00pm - 7:00pm
Jun
15
Be part of our Annual Golf Classic at the Country Club of Troy—a full day of golf, networking, and competition in a classic country club environment…
Monday, June 15, from 8:30am - 5:00pm