300 and Counting…
Here are just some of the charities that we are supporting in our community.
The Columbia Breakfast Rotary hosts the Sunset Symphony each year and Community First Bank & Trust is happy to sponsor the Symphony with a $2500 donation. Each year the Columbia Breakfast Rotary purchases dictionaries for each 3rd grader in the Maury County School Public School System along with providing scholarships to Columbia State and 2 Interact students at Hampshire School. Other organizations that benefit from the Symphony and Columbia Breakfast Rotary are the American Red Cross, Boys and Girls Club, Hope House, and area school newspaper departments.
The Murfreesboro CFBT office sponsored for the second year, the 3rd Annual Sherriff’s Department Appreciation Day Lunch. Hosted by the Sherriff’s Citizen’s Police Academy Alumni, the sheriff’s department was treated to lunch as the citizens of the community thanked our service men and women for all they do to protect and serve the people of Rutherford County.
Community First Bank has donated $500 to the Spring Hill Kiwanis’ Cycling for Children Bike Ride for the second year running. The spring bike ride will help to fund the Spring Hill Imagination Library and The Well Outreach Food Pantry. The Imagination Library provides free books monthly to children from birth to age five. The Well Outreach Food Pantry provides emergency food assistance to families in need in Spring Hill and Thompson’s Station. In 2009, 932 families were served, which is an increase of 62% over 2008. Both organizations have seen a drop in funding during the tough economy and the Kiwanis’ fundraiser is an important event which helps provide much needed funding for the year.
CFBK employees and many other volunteers worked very hard on The Al Allen Benefit at Doyle Bowen Memorial Park in Centerville on March 27th. This benefit raised nearly $17,000.00 for Al that has Lou Gehrig’s disease. We had a very large turnout with 11 teams playing softball and enjoying all the activities that were going on that day. We had a silent auction, large bake sale, homerun derby, bbq plates and a golf competition. CFBK employees from Centerville and Lyles collected all the items that were donated by merchants and individuals from our area.
For several years now, Community First Bank & Trust has donated to the Maury County Boys & Girls Club. This year, the bank donated $10,000 to be used for continuation of the Club’s dedicated service to the children and young adults of the Maury County communities. The check was presented at the Boys & Girls Club open house at what will be their new facility on Wayne Street. The new location will host elementary children freeing space downtown for their middle school and high school students.
Brenda Isbell and Sheila Bettini, branch managers of Community First Hickman County offices, visit with students from East Middle School to see the students’ progress of the bank sponsored Curriculum Expansion Through Arts program. Community First Bank & Trust has sponsored this program for many years with a $5,000 donation which benefits students of both Hickman County and East Middle. Students receive two or three residencies from professional artists whom are aligned with the arts program chosen for the year.
Community First employees showed up in spades yesterday at the Memorial Building ready to serve lunch and collect tips to raise money for Relay for Life and The American Cancer Society. Joanne Ring, Debbie Silverthorn, Mark Goatz, and Andra Hamlin were our celebrity waiters for the luncheon. The Relay For Life event was themed “Celebrate More Birthdays”. Joanne and Debbie, true to the theme, showed up as clowns to celebrate in “birthday” style. The team of Community First employees raised $1,080 in tips and $300 from the sale of the centerpieces. Great job Relay for Life Team!
Congratulations to our Williamson County branches for winning three awards at the United Way of Williamson County awards banquet. Bank representative, Tonya Little, was present to accept the three awards on behalf of the bank. Williamson County employees increased both their overall pledge amount and their participation for the 2009 campaign. The awards included the Circle of Caring award, the Greatest Campaign Participation award, and the Most Improved Campaign award.
Community First Bank donated $1,000 in support of the Maury County Habitat for Humanity’s most recent home in Mount Pleasant, TN. Habitat is typically funded through local church organizations but Community First Bank welcomed the opportunity to support this worthwhile cause.