42 SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2023 BANKING ON COMMUNITY Centier Bank, Merrillville, donated more than $10,000 to community organizations in the second quarter of 2023. The first $5,000 went to TradeWinds Services Inc. in honor of April’s National Diversity Month. The organization is a Merrillville-based nonprofit that provides services to people of all ages with disabilities, including all-inclusive childcare and children’s camps, speech and occupational therapies in local classrooms, and an array of services for adults and seniors with developmental disabilities. The bank donated another $2,250 to fund community services at the Salvation Army Kroc Center in South Bend, which provides a place to worship, feeds families and promotes music and art in child development. Another $1,000 went to the Challenger Learning Center of Northwest Indiana for providing STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) summer education to underserved communities. And $1,905 – along with 359 pounds of food – was donated to the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana as part of a bank-wide Summer Backpack Food Drive. Horizon Bank, Michigan City, awarded 10, $1,000 scholarships to area high school students through the Urban League of Northwest Indiana on May 10. Recipients included: Trinity Allen, Vanessa Del Real, Jose Torres, Brianne Simmons, William Murry, Gretta Burke, Megan Hudson, Sanaaiya West, Chloe Wisniewski and Halle Hood. The bank’s Diversity Business Council developed the Minority Scholarship Program to encourage minority students to pursue higher educations. Scholarships are awarded based on academic achievement, demonstrated leadership and potential. Horizon Bank, Michigan City, awarded a $5,000 grant to Dunebrook Inc. to support its public education program. The program presents child sexual abuse prevention education to more than 29,000 children and teens from kindergarten through high school seniors, in furtherance of the organization’s goal to empower children with the knowledge and skills to lessen the likelihood they become victims, while educating teachers and parents on how to prevent, identify and respond appropriately to suspicions. First Bank Richmond donated $115,000 to local not-for-profit organizations in the first quarter of 2023, including $85,000 to the Boys and Girls Club, $10,000 to First Tee Golf, $5,000 to the Wayne County Historical Museum and $15,000 as the main stage sponsor for the Richmond Civic Theatre’s 2023-24 season. JCBank, Seymour, donated $10,000 to the E5 Foundation before the Indiana University baseball game May 12. The foundation was created by Major League Baseball player Scott Rolen in 1999 to bring smiles to the faces of children and their families who are dealing with an illness, hardship or other special needs. The foundation offers field trips and “once in a lifetime” family weekends at Camp Emma Lou, an outdoor recreational retreat near Bloomington. Premier Bank, Defiance, OH, donated more than $10,000 to community organizations over the summer. The first $5,000 went to Habitat for Humanity of Greater Fort Wayne to sponsor the organization’s ReStore Your Passion event, a construction build and the Habitat Golf Outing. The donation came as the organization kicked off a 20-home build seaCentier Bank associates gathered to present a $2,250 community donation to the Salvation Army Kroc Center in South Bend on April 25, 2023. Dr. Vanessa Allen McCloud, president and CEO of Urban League of Northwest Indiana, stands with scholarship recipients William Murry, Brianne Simmons, Jose Torres, Vanessa Del Real and Trinity Allen, and Horizon Bank Executive Vice President Noe Najera. (from left) Cathy Laughlin, Dunebrook’s development director; Krysta Loucks, Horizon Bank’s operational risk specialist; and Dr. Tammy Gierke Button, DDS, MSD, Dunebrook’s executive director. Major League Baseball player Scott Rolen was joined by members of his family and the E5 Foundation he started to accept a check for $10,000 to the foundation from JCBank, represented by President & CEO Marvin Veatch, before the Indiana University baseball game on May 12, 2023.
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