Students and teachers across the Regions footprint have been making their way back to the classroom for the start of the 2024-2025 school year. And some are especially well equipped, thanks to Regions and United Way.
School supply drives are popular events at Regions. Many associates (of a certain age) have fond memories of brand-new Trapper Keeper binders, packets of rainbow-colored highlighters and movie-themed lunchboxes – and want to bring that same joy and excitement to kids today.
There’s also the difficult reality of rising prices on everything these days, including rent, food and healthcare. Families that struggle to get basic needs met likely have less money to spend on back-to-school gear. Having the supplies they need allows these students to focus on learning, making new friends and having a positive educational experience. And Regions associates want to do their part.
Education is a key strategic pillar of Regions’ community engagement strategy, and United Way shares the goal of prioritizing education across its chapters. The organization hosts many back-to-school fundraising events each year.
Regions has a long history with United Way of Greater Nashville, and local associates consistently show up to support their Stuff the Bus Day of Action. This year, market leaders gave the campaign a special twist – a crayon challenge.
And, as always, Regions associates rose to the occasion.
“If you have ever wondered what over 15,000 boxes of crayons looks like, they filled up the back of two pickup trucks, two SUVs and a minivan!” said Yolanda Hollingsworth, Regions Community Relations Officer for the Nashville market.
The Rivergate branch was the top participating location, donating 1,255 boxes of crayons. And Private Wealth was the winning business with 2,634 boxes donated. The teams exceeded their goal by 537 boxes, according to Yolanda. The crayons will go directly to local students on the first day of school.
United Way of Nashville’s Stuff the Bus Day of Action benefits more than 15,000 students in 10 local school districts. More than 120 volunteers showed up this year to organize $178,060 worth of supplies contributed by 158 donors.
“We’re proud to support the United Way and their efforts to ensure local students are equipped and ready to start the school year off right,” said Lee Blank, Nashville market executive for Regions. “Regions has enjoyed a strong community partnership with United Way for many years and it’s gratifying to see how a seemingly small act of donating school supplies can create such a positive impact on a child’s education.”
Regions associates in Hot Springs, Arkansas, also participated in a Stuff the Bus supply drive. Volunteers were stationed at Walmart locations in Garland County collecting school supplies for six local school districts.
Working with the United Way of the Ouachitas, Regions teams collected backpacks, notebooks, binders, glue sticks, notebooks and other classroom necessities.
“Garland County students will be so much better equipped this school year, thanks to all the generous donations,” said Catherine Monroe, Regions branch manager in Hot Springs. “Our 2024 Stuff the Bus campaign collected nearly 6,000 school supplies and more than $3000 in cash donations.”
“I’m so grateful to Walmart for being such great hosts every year, our volunteers for sweating and smiling through this great event, and especially our community for their generosity,” Monroe said.
Two hundred miles away, Regions team members across several business groups staffed yet another Stuff the Bus drive at the Paragould, Arkansas, Walmart. The bank also provided a $3,500 gift to United Way of Northeast Arkansas to jump-start collection results.
“Stuff the Bus really helps families and teachers bridge the gap with the rising cost of school supplies,” said Michael Miller, Agriculture banker and market executive for Regions Bank in Northeast Arkansas. “There’s a true appreciation from our neighbors that we’re part of this project. When you see people in the grocery store, they go out of their way to thank you for the support.”
In Birmingham, Alabama, the Regions Women in Finance group organized a supply drive for the Finance division. 148 backpacks, filled with crayons, markers, pens, colored pencils, glue sticks, scissors, notebook, filler paper and highlighters, were donated to the United Way of Central Alabama.
“Our United Way school supply drive was a complete success,” said Amanda Saint, member of the Women in Finance group. “We received lots of physical items and almost $2,000 in cash donations to go toward even more supplies. And we had a great crowd – 21 associates – on hand to stuff the backpacks, load them and deliver to United Way.”
The timing was perfect.
According to Alice Moore at United Way Hands On, who coordinates volunteers for the United Way of Central Alabama, a local mom called that day asking for supplies for her daughter because she hadn’t been able to purchase anything. “Because of the Regions Finance team that mom got what she needed, and her daughter was well prepared for the first day of school.”
The remainder of the backpacks were provided to students at Fairfield City School District. “We could not have made this kind of impact without Regions,” Moore said.