Program to aid local schools returns in 2010
Sunflower Bank hopes to build on a solid decade of partnership with area schools – and more than $350,000 donated to schools – as the bank’s annual ABC: Be True to Our Schools campaign begins its ninth year on January 1.
Sunflower Bank introduced the annual ABC Program in 2001, with the program designed to help support local schools amid tight budgets, boost community awareness and school support and reward local students for achieving good grades. The program features a report-card contest and debit-card transaction drive among other components.
Sunflower Bank believes that at the core of each community lies its school system. Schools provide educational and growth opportunities for our youth, jobs for adults, and enhance economic development opportunities. Through nearly a decade of annual ABC programs, the bank’s employees and customers look forward to the traditional ABC program in the first quarter of each year..
“We’re extremely proud to continue this program within a challenging economic environment and tight budget allocations,” said John Hanley, Sunflower Bank public relations officer. “As a community bank, it’s important for us to do our part. In fact, we consider it a privilege.”
The three-month program concludes with Sunflower Bank’s donation to each participating school – a total based on incentive matches, customer check card usage, and student participation. ABC: Be True to Your Schools 2010 features few changes to the program’s traditional three facets, with students and schools poised to benefit.
A. We Pay For A’s. Any student – whether or not they bank at Sunflower Bank – is encouraged to enter a copy of his or her most current report card into the “Pay For A’s” contest at a nearby Sunflower Bank location. On April 1, Sunflower Bank draws five winners from each bank location, paying those students $10 for each A. Sunflower Bank matches these totals with a corresponding donation to the student’s school! In the past, Sunflower has written checks to students adding up to more than $57,000, with schools receiving matching amounts.
B. Bucks For Our Schools. Sunflower Bank’s debit-card drive is a hit – calling on customers to designate a participating school for their debit card. Each time the customer signs for a transaction, the school earns 10 cents from Sunflower Bank. Last year alone area schools racked up more than $23,000 in donations based solely on customer debit card use.
C. Cash For You and Your School New customers to Sunflower Bank can earn up to $100 when they open their household’s first personal checking account at Sunflower Bank. During the ABC Program, new customers also may designate a participating school of their choice to earn up to $100 in a matching total!
“We’re proud to start the year and the decade with the ABC initative,” said Hanley. “It’s a great event for our community, and a benefit not only to hundreds of young people, but our region as a whole.”
