Wells Fargo
has committed $1,000 each to 10 Clark County schools, including Hathaway Elementary
School in the Washougal School District.
Wells Fargo
Community Bank President Casey
Callinsky, District Manager Amanda
Dolley and local team bank employees hosted the third annual Vancouver
Principals’ Breakfast earlier this month at a local restaurant. The attendees
included Hathaway Elementary Principal Laura Bolt.
The Wells
Fargo executives handed out $1,000 ceremonial checks to educators, all of whom
work at Washougal, Battle Ground and Vancouver and schools that have a large number
of students from low-income families. It will be up to each principal to decide
how to use the funds.
Callinsky
explained to the group why Wells Fargo is such a strong supporter of education.
“You can’t have a thriving company in a struggling community. And education is
the base of a thriving community,” he said.
Dolley stressed
how much Wells Fargo wants to support its local schools both financially and by
providing financial education (through its free, online Hands on Banking program). “We’d like to
help you in any way, shape or form,” she said. “The hope is that we can build
relationships so we can help more than just giving you $1,000.”
Dolley also
asked the educators, many of whom have attended this event in prior years, to
share what they had done with their previous grants. One school used its $1,000
Wells Fargo grant last year to create a program to develop good behavior.
Another used its grant last year to buy school supplies and backpacks for all
of its students. One school
used its previous grant to help upgrade equipment in every classroom. Another
put the money in its emergency fund, which it taps whenever a student needs
clothes or medications.
Founded in 1852,
Wells Fargo has repeatedly been named one of the most generous firms in the
nation. Education is one of the primary focus areas of its corporate giving.
Wells Fargo employs more than 650 team members in Clark County.
Pictured:
Wells Fargo’s Camas bank
manager Cristian Dragos presents a $1,000 ceremonial check to Principal Laura Bolt of Hathaway Elementary
School in Washougal.
