Bank of the Sierra Awards over $6K in Grants to So Cal Market
November 9, 2017
Porterville, CA – Bank of the Sierra announced that it’s Southern California Market received $6,500 from the Sierra Grant Program during the third quarter. Funds benefited three non-profits in the area including, Boys and Girls Club of Santa Clara Valley, Santa Paula Art Museum, and One Step a La Vez. Approximately 15-20 organizations are awarded $1000-$5000 in Sierra grants each quarter.
The Boys and Girls Club of Santa Clara Valley is an organization that provides a safe and positive environment for underprivileged children to learn while having fun after school. The non-profit received $2,500 and will use funds to go towards their Afterschool STEM Academy program which provides hands-on activities for underprivileged youth with a focus in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. The program helps encourage at-risk youth to strive for a higher education.
The Santa Paula Art Museum received $2,500 and will use the funds for their Children’s Enrichment Project. The program provides 2,100 low-income children, and their families, access to art education programming including their ARTSpark program. This program provides activities including, free Family Days and Teen Open Studio for underprivileged children in grades K-12.
One Step a La Vez is an organization that provides low-income children age 13-19 with a safe environment to learn. They were awarded with $1,500 to apply toward their youth program which helps to educate children about empowerment, leadership, and cultural awareness within their communities.
Kevin McPhaill, Bank President and CEO expressed his appreciation, “We appreciate any opportunity to help the less fortunate members of our community, especially when it comes to children.” He added, “We are excited to help steer these children in the right direction and contribute to their success in the future.
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 40th year of operations and is the largest independent bank headquartered in the San Joaquin Valley. Bank of the Sierra is a community-centric regional bank, which offers a full range of retail and commercial banking services via 39 full-service branches located throughout California’s South San Joaquin Valley and neighboring communities, on the Central Coast, and in Southern California locations including the Santa Clara Valley. 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.
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