2008 Community Involvement
Growing Our Communities
During the month of June, First Bank Financial Centre promoted its "Growing Our Communities" initiative in which bank employees demonstrated their green thumbs by planting flowers throughout the communities they serve.
On Wednesday, June 11, Ron Grass and Kelly Wagner took Connie Casper from the Village of Hartland to a local greenhouse to pick out flowers for the Village Hall. They purchased two wicker stands and placed red, white, and blue flowers in each stand at the Village's front entrance. They also placed geraniums in the back entrance way.
West Bend's event took place on June 19. Three different plots were planted in front of three different downtown West Bend businesses. Over four plats of flowers were used. With full branch participation, employees planted for about 45 minutes. One of the business owners expressed their gratitude, explaining it was great to have flowers where typically only over-grown bushes and weeds had been. In addition to the flowers, employees added better soil, and will continue weeding and watering their plots throughout summer and fall.
Germantown employees planted flowers around the entrance to their local Kinderberg Park. In addition, a Deborah Maple Tree was purchased and planted with a few other flowers at Kinderberg Park. Many employees from the Germantown branch participated in this event, and the city was very grateful for the greenery.
The three Oconomowoc branches each volunteered a separate location in downtown Oconomowoc to plant. Employees from the Summit Ave. branch claimed potters next door to Todd's Grill on W. Wisconsin Ave. Meanwhile, a crew from the W. Wisconsin Ave. branch planted in two potters and around the welcome sign at Memorial Park on Lac LaBelle. The final group planting was located at City Beach, just down from Memorial Park. A large planter was filled with combinations of red, white and blue flowers. Some Branch Managers have been invited to attend an upcoming Oconomowoc Common Council Meeting on July 15 and will be personally thanked by city representatives.
Finally, several employees from the Hartford branch including Yai Pounds, Tom Sloey and Christa Gavin planted at their local Willow-Brook Park. A plot in surrounding the Willow-Brook Park welcome sign was filled with beautiful greenery and several types of flowers.
The staff reported they had a great time attending this event, and the flower beds look beautiful in every community.
Pictured in the photo are from left: Yai Pounds and Christa Gavin from FBFC's Hartford branch.
Construction Zone Cookout
On June 20, First Bank Financial Centre (FBFC) hosted a "Construction Zone Cookout" in support of the beautification of downtown Oconomowoc. The day before the cookout, FBFC employees hit the streets to distribute invites to area construction workers, local businesses, and residents who are affected by the construction. Soda, brats, burgers, chips, and cookies were enjoyed by the guests.
First Bank Financial Centre received many thanks for their generosity by the construction crews and many other attendees. This was a successful event that FBFC hopes to replicate in the future.
Pictured in the photo is Ralph Garcia, Branch Manager of FBFC's W. Wisconsin Ave. branch, and grill master.
Germantown Donates to the Senior Center
On Wednesday, June 11, 2008, First Bank Financial Centre donated $1,620.00 to the Germantown Senior Center. This donation will benefit the computer education courses that are offered to the seniors.
The check was presented to a very appreciative LaDonna Kleiss, Director of the Senior Center, at the center's monthly meeting by Cheri Schadeberg, Branch Manager at First Bank Financial Centre's Germantown branch, Debbie DesRoches, Assistant Branch Manager, and Barb Brennan, Investment Representative.
In operation since 1978, the Germantown Senior Center is a non-profit organization logging approximately 4,593 volunteer hours this last year. As a part of the Village of Germantown, 85% of their programs are coordinated by volunteers - saving the village over $85,000 in "potential" salary hours. Two full-time staff members are paid by the village and one full-time nutritionist is paid for by the Washington County Center for Aging. These employees work hard to provide the very best care for their 340 senior members.
Pictured in the photo are from left: Barb Brennan, FBFC Investment Representative; Debbie DesRoches, Assistant Branch Manager at FBFC's Germantown branch; Cheri Schadeberg, Branch Manager at FBFC; and LaDonna Kleiss, Director of the Germantown Senior Center
Donation to Retzer Nature Center
First Bank Financial Centre donated $419.00 to The Retzer Environmental Learning Center in Waukesha as a result of our eStatements promotion. For each customer in Waukesha County who signed up for eStatements between April 15 and May 15, FBFC pledged to donate $1.00 (per customer) to this environmental learning center.
Throughout 2008, the Friends of Retzer Nature Center (the non-profit organization behind the learning center) will use this donation to help fund a few of their planned projects and events. Some of which include the Sky Watch Platform, the completion of the new weather station, Apple Harvest Fest hay rides, and many more.
At The Retzer Environmental Learning Center "education is the key". They are dedicated to providing hands-on, outdoor/environmental educational opportunities for school groups, families, and adults through public programs. The Retzer Center strives to create awareness and appreciation of the environment in all patrons and visitors.
Pictured in the photo are from left: Jerry Strom, President of the Friends of Retzer Nature Center, Mark Mohr, President of First Bank Financial Centre and Larry Kascht, Supervisor and Lead Teaching Naturalist at Retzer Nature Center
Community Shred Day
On Saturday, May 10, First Bank Financial Centre's (FBFC) Waukesha County branches hosted Community Shred Day at our Brown Street location in Oconomowoc. From 9:30-11:30 am, employees from our Waukesha County branches were onsite to help carry boxes for approximately 55 people who showed up to have their documents shredded by Pro Shred, a professional shredding company. Several "early birds" dropped off boxes to be shred prior to the truck even arriving that morning.
Pictured below are from left: Tim and Tenley Williamson with Kelly Wagner from our Hartland branch.
Random Acts of Kindness
Across the country, financial institutions were celebrating Community Banking Month throughout April. First Bank Financial Centre was no exception, embarking on our second annual "Random Acts of Kindness". These events involved our seven branches initiating random, kind, gestures throughout their communities.
During the week of April 1, each branch devised its own random act to benefit its community from cookies being delivered to area businesses by our Hartland branch to handing out restaurant gift cards and gas cards in the Oconomowoc and West Bend areas. Hartford purchased dinner for their local fire department, while Germantown donated a kitchen gift basket to the Germantown Senior Center.
Week two of this initiative was a branch-wide success. Each branch donated money or supplies to their local free clinics. Many of the funds donated were used to purchase diabetes medication.
On their own again for the week of April 13 to devise their own random act, more gas cards and gift certificates were handed out to strangers on the street by a couple of our Oconomowoc branches and our Hartford branch. West Bend dropped off $250 worth of miscellaneous items to Trinity Lutheran Church for their elderly program, while Oconomowoc's Summit Ave. branch donated funds to allow those who utilize Silver Streak to have a free ride. It was during this week that Hartland provided dinner for their local fire department.
The final week of the initiative found our Oconomowoc and Hartland branches handing out gift cards to Piggly Wiggly, our Hartford branch delivering sporting equipment to a local day care center, West Bend feeding their local police department, and our Germantown branch donating bags of toys to their local elementary schools.
Overall, this initiative was a great success to the members of each community who benefited from the random acts, and for the First Bank Financial Centre employees who were able to brighten the day of a stranger.
Pictured below is the Germantown donation to thier local schools and the Waukesha County branches' donation to the Lake Area Free Clinic.
FBFC Benefits Local Golf Outing
On April 4, First Bank Financial Centre donated $3,500 to the Rogers Memorial Hospital Foundation Golf Outing to be held on July 14, 2008, at Bristlecone Pines Golf Club in Hartland. All proceeds collected from this event will benefit the Hospital's Foundation.
Rogers Memorial Hospital is a free standing, not-for-profit psychiatric hospital. The Rogers Memorial Hospital Foundation exists solely to raise financial support for the hospital's patients and programs.
Pictured in the photograph are from left: Mike Welsh, Assistant Vice President - Mortgage Loans at First Bank Financial Centre and active committee member for the Rogers' Golf Outing; Rick Andritsch, Partner at VJS Construction Services and active board member for the Rogers Memorial Hospital Foundation Board and; Mark Mohr, President of First Bank Financial Centre.
Donation to Oconomowoc Area Historical Society and Museum
On March 26, 2008, First Bank Financial Centre donated $1,000 to the Oconomowoc Area Historical Society and Museum. This donation will be used to acquire archival storage materials and shelving for the most fragile objects in the museum's collection, and to cover expenses associated with their newest Draper Hall exhibit, planned to open this spring.
The Oconomowoc Area Historical Society and Museum was founded in 1926 with one archeological collection. It has since expanded to showcase almost 20,000 individual artifacts and archives. The museum is a unique repository resource for Oconomowoc Area "stories"; all meticulously documented and catalogued to teach, inspire, fascinate, and surprise.
Pictured in the photograph from left: Mark Mohr, President of First Bank Financial Centre; Terry Ladwig, Vice President of the Oconomowoc Area Historical Society and Museum.
Oconomowoc Donated to Junior Achievement
First Bank Financial Centre's Oconomowoc branches donated $500.00 to sponsor the 2008 Metro Milwaukee Junior Achievement Business Challenge, hosted by Briggs & Stratton. To compete in this challenge, students had to make decisions regarding product pricing, production levels, marketing expenditures, capital investment, R&D, and charitable giving. In addition to the competition itself, the students were treated to inspirational presentations by two successful business owners, Andy Nunemaker, CEO of EMSystem LLC; and Erica Conway, President of C2 Graphics Productivity Solutions.
And the really great news...of the 31 teams from 21 schools who participated, our very own team, Team Z Inc., from Oconomowoc High School took first place, earning the entire team $500 scholarships per student and advancement to the Statewide Business Challenge Championship!
Pictured in the photo are from left: Wendy Quaden, Branch Manager at FBFC's Brown St. branch; Ralph Garcia, Branch Manager at our downtown Oconomowoc location; Sally Schoenborn, Branch Manager at our Summit office; and Tim Greinert, President of Junior Achievement of WI.
Donation to OHS Robotics Team
On February 29, 2008, First Bank Financial Centre donated $1,000 to the Oconomowoc High School Robotics Team. This sponsorship will help fund the entry and travel expenses for the team's competitions this school year.
Supervised by Lauren Vertz and Bob Blersch, this group won the Chairman's Award, presented by FIRST (the national robotics organization), in 2007, recognizing their outreach to other robotics teams in Wisconsin.
Pictured in the photograph: Top row, from left: John Guckenberger; Kyle Hern; Christopher Rusch; and Tom Cassuci.
Bottom row, from left: Marcus Baird; Brittany Rusch; Mark Mohr, President of First Bank Financial Centre; and Emily Hern.
Corporate Donation to the Waukesha Symphony Orchestra
On February 27, 2008, First Bank Financial Centre donated $5,000 to the Waukesha Symphony Orchestra. This sponsorship will help fund the April 6, 2008, performance of Dufour and the 80's, presented by Mathieu Dufour at the Chapel at St. John's Northwestern Military Academy in Delafield.
The Waukesha Symphony Orchestra has dedicated over 59 years to bringing exceptional symphonic music and cultural experiences to Waukesha County and its surrounding communities.
Donating to this valuable community organization displays First Bank Financial Centre's commitment to the communities it serves.
Pictured in the photograph from left: Betty Reul, President of the Waukesha Symphony Orchestra; Mark Mohr, President of First Bank Financial Centre, and; Kristin Hansen, Executive Director of the Waukesha Symphony Orchestra
Donation to Silver Streak, Inc.
Every year, First Bank Financial Centre (FBFC) donates $1,000 to Silver Streak, Inc., and 2008 is no exception. Over the years, FBFC has contributed well over $10,000 to this worthy non-profit organization.
Silver Streak, Inc. is a non-profit transportation service for seniors and the disabled in the Oconomowoc area. They provide rides for ambulatory adults over the age of 55, or ambulatory disabled people of any age. Silver Streak has served the community since 1991, and is funded through community grants and donations.
Those in need of a ride to run errands such as a trip to the grocery store, a doctor appointment, or even a ride to the beauty salon, to name a few, can call (262) 567-6404 for further information.
First Bank Financial Centre is proud to contribute to this much needed and appreciated service in the Oconomowoc community.
Pictured from left: Gary Sherwin, Cash Management Officer for FBFC, with Jeff Ek, President of Silver Streak
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Copyright 2008 | 
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