April 11, 2011
Monday

(SitNews) Ketchikan, Alaska - First Bank has been nationally recognized for its community outreach efforts by the American Bankers Association.  First Bank was awarded for its endeavors in the Encouraging Volunteerism category for their Community Service Award Program.

Sheila Kleinschmidt, Vice President and Community Development Officer and Michael Medford, Vice President and Community Reinvestment Officer, receive the American Banker Association award given to First Bank for Encouraging Volunteerism within their communities.
Photo courtesy First Bank

The ABA selection committee awarded 9 banks from a field of more than 180 nominations across the nation based on the innovation, creativity and effectiveness of the bank’s approach to making a difference in its community.  “First Bank is honored to receive this award which represents our commitment, passion and leadership to our communities in Southeast Alaska throughout the year,” Michael Medford, Vice President and Community Reinvestment Officer for First Bank said.

First Bank’s Community Service Award Program is designed to encourage and foster citizenship, knowledge, and personal development of people in Southeast Alaska through community service opportunities. The program provides local organizations opportunities to serve their communities and at the same time, get paid for it.

For example, a middle school girls’ softball team in Ketchikan, organized a food and fundraising drive for Women in Safe Homes (WISH).  The local softball team raised over $1,000 worth of food that was donated to WISH. In turn, First Bank donated $1,000 to the softball team.  Since inception of the Community Service Award Program, over 800 young volunteers, not including family participants, have raised or contributed over $62,000 in value to local community organizations.

Entries were divided into seven categories including helping to achieve homeownership, encouraging volunteerism, fundraising for foundations and local groups, improving financial literacy, reaching out to the underserved, building with Habitat for Humanity and revitalizing your community.

The ABA Community Bank Awards program was established in 2005 to recognize community banks’ outstanding charitable achievements.

Source of News:

First Bank
www.FirstBankAK.com

First Bank is a regional full service bank serving businesses, consumers and governments in Southeast Alaska since 1924. First Bank has eight branch locations in Ketchikan, Juneau, Sitka, Petersburg, Wrangell and Craig, Alaska.

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