First Community Bank Paints the Town Pink for Charity

First Community Bank raised more than $16,000 for breast cancer research. Throughout October 2022, the community bank in Batesville, Ark., participated in White River Health System’s Paint the Town Pink initiative to raise awareness and money for breast cancer research and the medical organization’s equipment. 

“Our culture is deeply rooted in the values of service and philanthropy,” said Justin Taylor, head of events and community relations at the $2.6 billion-asset community bank. “We believe strong communities are built with local volunteers.”

The community bank held fundraising initiatives like Blue Jeans Fridays, and soup and chili sales. There was even a Kiss the Alpaca contest in which employees decorated donation boxes that were put in the lobby next to piggy banks. The employee whose piggy bank had the most money by the end of October got to meet a furry alpaca friend and kiss the animal in front of fellow bank employees, as well as a reporter from the local news. 

In total, First Community Bank donated $16,580 to White River Health Foundation for breast cancer research. The bank’s efforts also spread awareness about ongoing developments in breast cancer research to its community.

“We’re a community bank, so I feel like supporting the community and doing fundraisers like this is a good way to give back to it,” Taylor said. —Christopher Garritty