At a time when community support matters more than ever, community banks show that they have always been stepping up to take care of the world around them. To continue our Community Banking Month coverage, we highlight good works around children/students, financial literacy and support. However, we know that all community bankers support their communities in many ways, so we thank you all!
- In TX, Worthington National Bank collected school supplies and more than 638 boxes of cereal for the local charity, Communities in Schools.
- First Reliance Bank in SC held its annual Soup Day, a charity that buys holiday gifts for children who are needy or in foster care. The funds also help police officers, veterans, teachers, or others who need help.
- Bank of the Rockies in MT helped sponsor a blood drive in honor of a local youth suffering from leukemia.
- A group at Deerwood Bank in MN worked with the Brighter Days Foundation to give a local pediatric cancer patient a dream vacation for herself and her family.
- Bank of Utah raised $1.5mm for a new facility that will expand the education program at Youth Impact, a non-profit that serves at-risk young people.
- Wells River Savings Bank in VT organized a fun run and walk to benefit Jazzy's Children Fund, which helps children with life-threatening illnesses or injuries.
- Three celebrity chefs judged a student chef competition hosted by Lakeside Bank. The contestants, all female chefs, competed for $10K in scholarships.
- WNB Financial in MN hosted a chili cook-off, raising $5,564.60 for Ready Set School, a nonprofit that ensures that county K-12 students have the supplies they need to succeed.
- More than 100 children from underserved communities received at least two gifts each from San Diego, CA's HomeStreet Bank, which collected toys to donate.
- Luther Burbank Savings in CA underwrote an innovative, interactive program called JA Finance Park Mobile that lets students in Sonoma County learn personal financial skills. More than 1,200 students participated. The bank also sponsored the program's capital campaign, raising $1mm for a permanent mobile finance park.
- Employees of First Southwest Bank in CO helped 1,335 people with free financial counseling last year.
- Timberland Bank in WA supported local firms during National Business Week by hosting an event where business owners shared ideas and challenges.
- California International Bank is on track to prepare more than 200 tax returns this year for local people.
- First Interstate Bank in Bend, OR closed for half a day for employees to volunteer. Among other things, they planted a garden at the middle school and educated seniors about financial issues.
