Outstanding Large Philanthropic Organization
~ Farmers State Bank ~
Farmers State Bank has a commitment to community that runs deep and is evident in Marion and surrounding locales. Their employees volunteer over 4,500 hours annually to more than 75 local non-profits such as Willis Dady Homeless Services, The Catherine McAuley Center, and Waypoint. Volunteer efforts range from manual labor projects in low- and moderate-income areas to teaching financial skills to children, to service in local crisis shelters, to providing financial, leadership, and management expertise to local nonprofits.
The bank sponsors over 30 family-friendly, free events each year, including: Free Kids movies at Collins Road Theater, Annual Trunk or Treat, and Alburnett Children’s’ Benefit Day Parade.
Donating more than $200,000 annually to a variety of educational programs, local enrichment initiatives, and area non-profits, their name is synonymous with community. Over the past five years, the bank has committed $1,423,192 in charitable donations to organizations such as United Way, American Heart Association, March of Dimes, Marion Public Library Summer Reading Program, Linn County Fair, HACAP Food Reservoir, and NewBo City Market. Their commitment to the health, vitality, and education of the community is most evident in their recent multi-year commitments to the new Marion YMCA and the Marion Public Library.
They are true stakeholders in the community. It drives their dedication of service to the customers, meeting with local business owners to discuss needs, investing in improvements to neighborhoods and main streets, and giving back to those in need through donations and service. The bank is most committed to affordable housing, economic stability over job growth, access to healthcare services (particularly mental health and substance abuse), city infrastructure and general utility improvement, and financial literacy at all stages.
In the words of Gene Neighbor, “At the heart of it all, we are a family-owned community bank that loves to give back to our neighborhoods and enhance the financial lives of our customers.”
These words represent the bank’s genuine concern for the people and communities they serve and epitomize Farmers State Bank’s role as an outstanding philanthropic organization.