Community Strength

A thoughtful gesture between two Pennsylvania businesses has grown into a $20,000 commitment to support cancer patients, survivors and families throughout Bucks County. Newtown’s Coldwell Banker Hearthside and Peoples Security Bank & Trust, an independent community bank, recently joined forces to make a combined $20,000 donation to Kin Wellness and Support Center in Buckingham.

What began as an expression of support for one local business leader became an opportunity to recognize many others who have faced breast cancer, including members of the Coldwell Banker Hearthside family.

The partnership began with a personal gesture from Peoples Security Bank & Trust.

Representatives of the bank had been moved by the strength and resilience of Robin Mancuso DeLuna, co-owner and Chief Operating Officer of Coldwell Banker Hearthside, as she continued leading her family’s business following a breast cancer diagnosis and throughout treatment.

Recognizing her determination and the challenges she was navigating, the bank offered to make a $10,000 charitable contribution in Robin’s honor during Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

When Robin and her brother, Jamie Mancuso, Chief Executive Officer of Coldwell Banker Hearthside, learned of the bank’s generosity, they decided their family-owned company would match the contribution.

That decision brought the total donation to $20,000 and reflected the values that have guided the Mancuso family’s business for more than three decades: relationships, family and a commitment to the communities they serve.

For Robin, the bank’s generosity came at an especially meaningful time.

Earlier in October, she had shared her breast cancer diagnosis with Coldwell Banker Hearthside’s agents and employees, hoping her experience would encourage colleagues to prioritize their health and stay current with recommended screenings.

What happened next surprised her.

“They had carried this quietly, through showings and closings and everything else, and nobody knew,” Robin shared in the company’s announcement. “This touched me profoundly. I wanted our company’s gift to honor their strength and experiences, too.”

For Jamie Mancuso, the donation also carried a personal connection to the organization receiving the funds.

Jamie has known the Transue family for much of his life. Kin Wellness and Support Center was inspired by the vision of Corinne Transue Sikora, who passed away in 2020 after battling breast and brain cancer.

Corinne had envisioned a welcoming place where people facing cancer could find emotional support, wellness services and a sense of community close to home.

“One of the things that makes doing business locally so special is the relationships you build along the way,” Jamie said. “Peoples Security Bank & Trust didn’t have to do this. They saw what Robin was going through, recognized the strength she continued to show, and wanted to do something meaningful. That kind of personal connection means a great deal to our family.”

He added that being able to honor Robin, their Hearthside colleagues and the memory of someone whose family he had known for so long made the contribution especially meaningful.

The bank’s contribution was coordinated through Jolene Zimmerman, Vice President and Senior Cash Management Sales Officer, and Ian Matlack, Senior Vice President and Greater Delaware Valley Market President.

Although the donation grew out of personal experiences, its impact is intended to extend throughout the local cancer community.

Kin Wellness and Support Center, located in Buckingham, provides free, nonmedical wellness and support services to Bucks County residents affected by cancer, including patients, survivors, caregivers and oncology healthcare workers.

For someone navigating a cancer diagnosis, the challenges often extend beyond medical appointments. Treatment can bring fatigue, emotional stress, uncertainty and disruptions to everyday life. Family members and caregivers may experience their own physical and emotional strain while supporting someone they love.

Kin offers a welcoming environment where guests can access services such as oncology massage, yoga, fitness classes, meditation, support groups and other integrative wellness programs.

Since opening in December 2021, the center has reported providing more than 10,000 free services to members of the local cancer community.

The contribution from Coldwell Banker Hearthside and Peoples Security Bank & Trust will support Kin’s ability to continue offering free programs and services to individuals and families facing cancer.

While the $20,000 contribution will support local wellness programs, Robin hopes sharing her experience will also encourage others to take action when it comes to their health.

Her breast cancer was detected early because she kept up with her recommended screening appointments. Since sharing her diagnosis with colleagues, she has heard from women who have taken steps to schedule overdue mammograms.

Robin has also encouraged blood donation, having experienced firsthand the importance of donated blood during her treatment.

“If you are due for a mammogram, schedule it,” Robin said. “My cancer was caught early because I kept my appointments, and early is everything. And if you are able to give blood, please do. I am here in part because a stranger did.”

For two businesses rooted in the communities they serve, the contribution is a reminder that meaningful relationships can lead to meaningful acts of generosity.

And for the patients, survivors, families and caregivers who turn to local support programs, those acts can help ensure they have somewhere to turn during an incredibly challenging time.