Bank of the Sierra Awards $43K to Central Valley Non-Profits during First Quarter
May 21, 2018
Porterville, CA – Bank of the Sierra announced today, that $43,000 was awarded to 19 worthy non-profits in the Central Valley through the bank’s Sierra Grant Program. Each quarter the bank awards $1,000-$5,000 grants to 15-20 local non-profit organizations. Grants were distributed to a record number 26 non-profits within the bank’s footprint this quarter, including the following in the Central Valley:
Abundant Life Ranch, Inc. received a grant to fund their 90 Minute Session Program which serves disadvantaged, abused, and at risk children between the ages of 5-18. The program helps children to develop healthy relationship skills, primarily based on communication, respect, and trust while participating in ranch chores, horse care, and other activities. The grant allows members the opportunity to participate for a donation-only cost.
The Bethlehem Center, who serves 6000 hot meals to homeless and low-income families monthly, received a grant to alleviate food expenses. The Center’s goal is to provide healthy well-rounded meals to members of the community who cannot otherwise afford it. The organization also provides clothing and a resource center to assist those who are less fortunate.
Valley Caregiver Resource Center received a grant to fund a certified case investigator, who will ensure elderly members of the community who live in long-term care facilities are well taken care of. The investigator will advocate for over 1000 residents visiting a minimum of eight care facilities monthly. The Center also provides a variety of resources that assist elderly community members along with their families master the challenges of the aging process.
Kevin McPhaill, Bank President and Chief Executive Officer enthusiastically announced, “We reached a record number of Sierra Grant applications this quarter and were delighted for the opportunity to fund such incredible initiatives.” He continued, “We are not an inactive bank, we are a community bank, standing by the people who reside here and helping every chance we get!”
About the Sierra Grant Program
Since its inception in 2004 the Sierra Grant Program has been responsible for donating over 1.7 million dollars to organizations that improve local communities. Non-profits who wish to apply for a Sierra Grant can pick up an instructional brochure at any Bank of the Sierra branch, or visit the bank’s web site at www.bankofthesierra.com/resources/sierra-grant-program.
About Bank of the Sierra
Bank of the Sierra is in its 41st year of operations and is the largest independent bank headquartered in the South San Joaquin Valley. Bank of the Sierra is a community-centric regional bank, which offers a full range of retail and commercial banking services with full-service branches located within the counties of Tulare, Kern, Kings, Fresno, Los Angeles, Ventura, San Luis Obispo, and Santa Barbara. The bank also maintains an online branch, and provides specialized lending services through an agricultural credit center, a real estate industries center, and an SBA center. In 2018, Bank of the Sierra received a Bauer Financial 5-star rating, an honor only awarded to the strongest financial institutions in the country.