At Regions, Evergreen is more than just a week of celebration – it’s a reflection of who we are.
Each year, the bank sets aside time to honor associates with fun, food and fellowship. But for many teams, it’s more than just festivities. They choose to make an extraordinary impact by giving back to the communities we serve.
“Our culture is what sets us apart at Regions,” said Leroy Abrahams, Head of Community Engagement. “I’m incredibly proud of our associates who make volunteering a priority during Evergreen. Their generosity adds a deeper, more meaningful layer to this company celebration.”
Last year during Evergreen, more than 1,200 associates volunteered their time, contributing over 4,400 service hours to support nearly 350 organizations across our footprint.
And this year, the momentum continues – with teams once again stepping up to serve, proving that going the extra mile isn’t the exception here. It’s our everyday standard.
See how Team Green showed up in our communities this week in this gallery.
This is why extra is our ordinary.
The Legal team kicked things off with a Habitat for Humanity volunteer project in the Roebuck neighborhood of Birmingham. Thirteen associates spent the day raising walls and securing the structure – contributing to the early stages of construction that will, in a few weeks, become a new home for a local family. “Helping to build a new home was a reminder that the work we do together goes beyond the office,” said Bradley Blair, assistant general counsel and coordinator of the project. “I can’t think of a better way to kick off Evergreen Week. Supporting Habitat for Humanity allows us to invest in the stability and future of families right here in our community.”
The St. Louis-based Regions team dedicated an Evergreen afternoon to the local nonprofit Operation Food Search. Regan McKenna, an analyst in Human Resources Total Rewards, coordinated the activity. Associates sorted and packed personal care items collected through April Showers, a Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri community service program, for distribution into the community.
Four members of the Regions Birmingham Impact Network Marketplace team conducted two Regions Next Step financial wellness seminars at Jessie’s Place, a shelter for women and children that offers programs to assist families with successfully transitioning back into the community. Bianca Hill, an analyst in Regions Credit Risk Management and a Regions Next Step Ambassador, organized the activity.“Our team was able to provide tools and information to help these women make better financial decisions, including budgeting, setting financial goals and learning the importance of establishing and maintaining credit,” Hill said. “Serving this organization is a joy for us, not only during Evergreen but throughout the year, because it gives us a chance to make life better for these women and their children. It brings a smile to our faces when they have a light bulb moment and realize it’s not too late to accomplish their goals and dreams. This is what it is all about!”
Serving this organization is a joy for us, not only during Evergreen but throughout the year, because it gives us a chance to make life better for these women and their children.
Bianca Hill, an analyst in Regions Credit Risk Management
The Regions Houston market gathered an impressive team – 65 associates – to box up pantry items at the Houston Food Bank. And they made a huge impact: 16 pallets containing more than 14,000 pounds of food will provide almost 12,000 meals for local families in need.
Head of Consumer Banking Group Kate Danella and her Birmingham-based leadership team spent Tuesday afternoon building adaptive tricycles at Iron City Trykes/ Birmingham AMBUCS. This nonprofit provides therapeutic tricycles for children and veterans with adaptive needs. According to Compliance Manager Ben Stewart, the experience was both fun and rewarding. “It was really moving to see how the trikes we assembled will directly benefit children with mobility issues,” he said. Jason Epstein, head of Consumer Support and Performance Solutions, agreed, saying, “I know it touched us all to know the tricycles we assembled will soon be bringing great joy to children in the community.” Head of Consumer Products and Origination Partnerships Brian Jackson described it as “an incredible afternoon.” The group also enjoyed some friendly competition, with the Stewart-Epstein-Jackson team winning the fastest assembly prize. “We dominated!” Ben said.
Regions teams throughout Florida are having an active Evergreen week so far, with several community engagement events happening across the state. According to Community Relations Officer Stephen Ponzillo, Regions associates gathered at Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida as well as Feeding Tampa Bay to pack boxes of food for families in need. Fort Myers Market Executive Dorothy Blasingim and a team of associates volunteered with United Way of Lee, Hendry and Glades as a part of the annual Day of Caring event. Retail Operations Manager Tim Curren and his team volunteered at Girl Scouts of West Central Florida, assembling kits for new volunteers who will be serving as troop leaders around the eight-county council footprint.
I know it touched us all to know the tricycles we assembled will soon be bringing great joy to children in the community.
Jason Epstein, head of Consumer Support and Performance Solutions
Michelle Spencer and the Birmingham-based Customer Advocacy team spent an Evergreen morning volunteering at Grace Klein Community, a nonprofit in Pelham, Alabama, that provides food and other resources to local individuals and families in need.
The Charlotte Regions team enjoyed spending time together while filling orders for local food pantries in the Nourish Up warehouse. The Regions group filled five orders – which according to Nourish Up staff is a huge accomplishment in that amount of time.
The Operational Risk Management team didn’t just go the extra mile — they went mutts! Risk Analyst Malik Thomas and others from the team had the enviable job of walking dogs and playing with cats at the Greater Birmingham Humane Society. Thanks for making life paws-itively amazing for our four-legged friends!
More teams have volunteer activities planned for later in the week. Here’s a sampling:
- Utah-based Regions Home Improvement Finance associates are volunteering at the Utah Food Bank, participating at Junior Achievement’s JA in a Day at Escalante Elementary School and taking part in a litter cleanup with the Pliking organization. HIFi colleagues in Mooresville, N.C. are gathering supplies to help local teachers stock their classrooms.
- The Regions Human Resources-Administration group organized several hands-on opportunities across 11 markets as well as virtual volunteer activities. Options included volunteering at the American Red Cross, local animal shelters, landscaping and cleanup at local parks, litter pickups, packing boxes at food banks and more.
- 14 members of the Birmingham-based Credit Risk team are participating in a Habitat for Humanity build, led by Risk Credit Analytics Manager Carlos Jimenez.
- Tara Plimpton, Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary, and some of her Legal team are volunteering later this week at Ronald McDonald House.
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