Durant First United Bank had a splash for school supplies Aug. 1 and for five bucks, water balloons were hurled at loan operations staff members.
The event raised $670 that was donated to the Bryan County Turning Point Coalition for its Back to School Bash the following morning when backpacks filled with school supplies were given to students.
“We have been actively trying to raise funds for the school supplies drive for the First United bank-wide marketing campaign,” said Melissa Patterson, First United Spend Life Wisely ambassador.
“This is our loan operations department and they came together to try to figure out an interesting and unique way to raise money rather than just asking people for donations. So, they decided they would let everyone throw water balloons at them for five dollars a balloon and so all the money that’s raised today will go back to the Turning Point Coalition.” Sandra Jones is the First United learning and growth officer for loan operations and she participated in the event.
“We are raising money for back to school supplies for local children and we have an engagement committee who decided that it would be fun to raise that by throwing water balloons at the loan operations managers,” Jones said. “So, we have five managers who have volunteered to get totally soaked today.”
In an email, Patterson said she was thrilled that the bank exceeded its goal for this year’s school supplies drive. Banks across Oklahoma and Texas came together to collect thousands of essential items, making this initiative an incredible success.
“This weekend, we proudly donated the collected supplies in Durant to the Bryan County Turning Point Coalition, who hosted their Back to School Bash,” Patterson said. “First United Community Bank and corporate volunteers joined forces to support the event, handing out icecold waters to families in line, offering uplifting encouragement to students, and lending helping hands as supplies were distributed. The Oklahoma humidity was no match for this crew. Everyone was all smiles and full of heart.”
Patterson gave a shout out to the loan operations department for its Splash for Supplies event.
“When it comes to making a difference, you really know how to make some waves,” Patterson said.
