Bank of the Sierra Awards Over $46K in Grants to Central Valley Nonprofits During First Quarter
May 30, 2019
Porterville, CA – Bank of the Sierra announced today that $46,500 was given to 12 nonprofits in the Central Valley during the first quarter. The bank awards $1,000-$5,000 grants to 15-20 nonprofit organizations each quarter as part of its Sierra Grant program. Overall in the first quarter, Bank of the Sierra awarded a total of $66,000 to nonprofits in eight counties it serves.
The California 4-H Foundation is hosting its signature event, the 4-H State Leadership Conference, at UC Davis in July. A Sierra Grant will help several young 4-H members from low- to moderate-income families with travel and registration costs. The conference will help youth improve their leadership skills and prepare them for college and a future career.
The Mission at Kern County’s Lee and Krystyna Jameson Recovery Home for Women and Children offers safe shelter and addiction recovery programs. A Sierra Grant will help provide basic needs for children at the home, including formula, diapers, cribs, car seats, childcare, and healthy snacks. The organization’s goal is to assist mothers toward responsible parenting and self-sufficiency while providing the best possible care and learning environment for the children.
Happy Trails Riding Academy provides equine-related therapy to children and adults with disabilities throughout Tulare, Kings, and Fresno counties. A Sierra Grant will go towards scholarships for children to attend Camp Happy Trails in June and July. The weekly camps will feature a different theme each day, including arts and crafts, farm animals, and nature – all with a twist involving horses.
“I’m so proud of what we’ve accomplished with the Sierra Grant program,” said Kevin McPhaill, Bank of the Sierra President and Chief Executive Officer. “The program is now 15 years old, and we’ve seen our communities benefit greatly through the nonprofits we’ve supported.”
About the Sierra Grant Program
Since its inception in 2004, the Sierra Grant Program has been responsible for donating over two million dollars to organizations that improve local communities. Nonprofits 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 42nd 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 and an SBA center. Bank of the Sierra is recognized as one of the strongest and top-performing community banks in the country, with a 5-star rating from Bauer Financial and a Sm-All Star award from Sandler O’Neill.
