THE FIRST BANK JOINS GIVINGTUESDAY GLOBAL CHARITABLE MOVEMENT BY DONATING $25,000 TO THE SALVATION ARMY
The First Bank has joined the global charitable movement, GivingTuesday, with a $25,000 donation to The Salvation Army, which will benefit its centers throughout Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi. In support of the non-profit’s dedication to “doing the most good,” The First has donated over $51,000 since 2008 to The Salvation Army to support their efforts to overcome poverty, addiction and economic hardships through a range of social services including food, disaster relief, rehabilitation services, clothing and shelter.
“As a bank intent upon supporting the hundreds of communities it serves, we are proud to join other financial institutions, industries, companies and organizations in giving back to others on this GivingTuesday,” said Hoppy Cole, chief executive officer and president of The First Bank. “In the midst of the holiday season and the season of giving, we feel compelled to support organizations like The Salvation Army who help serve others during their time of need.”
The concept of GivingTuesday was created in 2012 as a simple idea to encourage people to do good. Over the past decade, this idea has grown into a global movement that has inspired hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate and celebrate generosity in every country in the world. In 2022, an estimated $3.1 billion was donated on GivingTuesday in the U.S. alone, a 15% increase in giving over the prior year and a 25% increase since 2020.
“This year for GivingTuesday, we are focusing on one organization that supports all the communities we serve,” said C. Jerome Brown, executive vice president and chief community officer for The First Bank. “The Salvation Army was our choice due to our team members’ passion for supporting their mission. Many of our team members are volunteers for the Salvation Army, whether volunteering on their advisory boards, supporting the red kettle campaign over the holidays, or organizing food and supply drives in our branches.”
Since 1865, The Salvation Army has been meeting human needs without discrimination, including assisting approximately 23 million Americans annually and serving 133 countries around the globe. Most famous for its red kettle fundraising campaign during the holidays, The Salvation Army provides counseling, youth services, senior services, veterans services and prison services in addition to the social services and disaster response services that are commonly associated with the non-profit organization.
With a footprint of over 6,900 locations across the county, The Salvation Army is uniquely positioned to meet the needs of local communities by offering tailored services year-round. In 2023 alone, the organization provided emergency shelter and transitional housing for over 8 million people, served more than 155 million meals, and provided rent and utility assistance to over 3 million families in need.