Nonprofit support is at the heart of our culture at Regions Bank.
Volunteerism. Donations. Board service. We’re committed to helping nonprofits as they help the cities and towns we serve. As we count down the remaining days of 2023, we’re highlighting three recent donation drives benefitting charitable causes in several areas:
Austin, Texas:
Distributing Coats of Many Colors
While the weather this winter may at times be frightful, Regions associates in the Lone Star State are doing their part to keep thousands of children bundled up and warm through The Junior League of Austin’s annual Coats for Kids drive. In its 37th year, the project marked a major milestone of distributing one million coats as of last winter.
The Junior League of Austin relies on more than 1,600 volunteers to help complete this drive from start to finish. A group of Regions associates not only donated coats, but also assisted with sorting the 30,000-plus collected this year to ensure they were ready for selection by children in need. Commercial Banking Relationship Manager Jeff Rossell was one of them.
“I volunteered for Coats for Kids the first time in 2019, and it left a lasting impression on me,” said Rossell. “Participating behind the scenes and playing a small role in contributing to this successful project is tremendously rewarding. I’m glad to be able to share that feeling with my colleagues.”
Feelings about the project also run deep for Lyndsay Kerr, this year’s The Junior League of Austin Coats for Kids chair.
“The most rewarding part of Coats for Kids is seeing the excitement of the children with their brand-new coats,” she said.
Charlotte, North Carolina:
It’s in the Bag – Classroom Essentials, That Is.
You might not immediately think of a donation drive supporting teachers during the holiday season. That’s precisely why Regions team members and one youth organization in Charlotte, North Carolina, did.
“We’re at the midpoint of the academic year, and it’s a great time to show appreciation for our educators,” said Lauri Mumford, a Regions Mortgage loan officer.
Bank associates joined forces with the Young Black Leaders Association (YBLA), a nonprofit developing young Black men and women into leaders to positively impact their peers, families and communities, to present appreciation bags to teachers at 30-plus Mecklenburg County high schools.
Mumford and Dwight Crawford, a Regions Mortgage community production manager, led the bank’s collection efforts, which resulted in donating two carloads filled with essential supplies like hand sanitizer, notebooks, tissues, sticky notes, pens, pencils and more. Teachers often spend more than $750 each school year out of their own pocket on supplies. Regions team members also compiled the appreciation bags with YBLA participants.
“Our collaboration with YBLA offered an exciting opportunity to expand the positive impact we can make throughout the Charlotte community,” said Mumford. “We’re grateful to our teammates for their generosity and to YBLA for their community partnership as we provide appreciation bags to hundreds of teachers in our area.”
Jonesboro, Arkansas:
Pack the Pantries to Feed Neighbors in Need? Yes, We Can!
For 16 years, the Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas, a Feeding America affiliate, has issued a challenge to Jonesboro-area businesses to Fill the Food Bank for neighbors facing chronic hunger. Regions Bank and its associates in Jonesboro, longtime Food Bank of NEA supporters, once again answered the call, conducting a canned goods drive at branches to help stock the holiday cupboards of area families. The project yielded several overflowing boxes weighing in at 200-plus pounds.
“People often think of this time of year being joyful, but it can be incredibly stressful for families working to make ends meet plus providing gifts for their loved ones,” said Michael Miller, Agriculture banker and market executive in Northeast Arkansas. “Holding the food drive at our Jonesboro branches offers our team members and customers a way to help reduce that stress and support the important work the Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas is doing all year to address hunger relief. It’s become a holiday tradition for us.”
The food bank’s friendly business competition, which this year brought in more than 56,000 meals, kicked off a larger community-wide collection with a goal to bring in an additional 300,000 meals for the holidays.
“With 63,000 people facing hunger in our 12-county service area, the food just doesn’t last long,” said Rebecca Hendrix, chief development officer with the organization. “The biggest surprise to many is the food we collect from this project will be distributed within two weeks; the need is that great. Community partnerships like the one we have with Regions are a vital way we can get food to people in need.”
