Written by: Chelsea Spears, Farmers National Bank
Giving back to the community. As a community bank, it’s just what we do.
Most recently, that spirit of generosity took the form of Farmers National Bank associates volunteering for Junior Achievement (JA), the nation's largest organization dedicated to giving young people the knowledge and skills they need to own their economic success, plan for their future, and make smart academic and economic choices.
Over the course of several weeks, 10 Farmers associates volunteered at JA events stretching across the bank’s footprint.
The first event consisted of a simulation in which Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania students learned to operate banks, manage restaurants, write checks and vote. Farmers associates spent all day helping run the simulated town called JA BizTown. (Pictured: Jocelyn Torres - Aspinwall Branch Manager, Bill Garvey – PA Private Banking & Wealth Management Team Leader), Wendy Sciullo – Cranberry Township Branch Manager, and Melinda White – PA West District Sales Manager).
Another initiative included the Entrepreneurship Expo at the Kent State Stark Conference Center. This event empowered Northeast Ohio high school students to fill a need or solve a problem in their community by becoming an entrepreneur. Prior to the expo, Farmers volunteers spent days ranking student presentations, then donated their time at the event to make sure it went off without a hitch.
Finally, a group of bank employees signed up for JA in a Day at Liberty Local Schools. The volunteers taught 7th graders interviewing, resume building and career mapping skills to help them land jobs and build successful careers.
“I really enjoyed our time giving back to JA BizTown in Pittsburgh,” said Bill Garvey, Senior Vice President, PA Private Banking & Wealth Management Team Leader at Farmers. “It was a great group of young kids to work with and we can only hope that we helped set them up for future success!”