Indiana bank enthusiastically adopts an elementary school

Northwestern Financial Review, Jul 15-Jul 31, 2002 by Dullum, Justin

[outreach]

The first year staff members at First Harrison Bank of Corydon, Ind., helped 5th and 6th grade students prepare for an online News Bowl Quiz, they got more than they bargained for.

Students from across Indiana competed against each other in the current events quiz. "The questions turned out to be more specific than we thought," said Aaron Smith, First Harrison's marketing director. "We hadn't prepared the students for such specific questions."

Last year, the bank staff and New Middletown Elementary students had a better idea of what to expect. This led them to place 10th and 11th respectively in Indiana. "It wasn't bad for the second go around. We are all happy with the improvement," said Smith.

Helping students prepare for a competitive quiz is just one example of how First Harrison Bank is participating in its local Adopt-A-School program.

The program had been around for some time and had experienced varied levels of success. Other companies were participating, but few had actually developed the program to include more than writing out a few checks now and again. Two years ago, First Harrison itself hadn't been particularly proactive. At least not until Smith took the bull by the horns and got the bank involved.

"It's been a great program and has turned into something we're very proud to be involved in," said Bill Harrod, president, First Harris. "But Aaron Smith has spearheaded that one. He really has to get most of the credit."

Since he became involved with AdoptA-School in the fall of 2000, Smith has taken a hands-on approach to helping the school. "We do more than just write out a check. Our staff goes to the school. We supply man power," Smith said.

Long is the list of programs Smith has either conjured up himself or, along with the bank's staff, helped bring to fruition. Smith coordinated an electrical safety program that educates kids on common hazards they might encounter, such as flying a kite near power lines. He contacted a television station in Louisville, about conducting a weather class. Fifth graders were studying whether spring time in Indiana brings an increase in thunderstorms and the possibility of tornados. "The program was very informative. I probably enjoyed it as much as they did," Smith said.

Smith helped students write a grant request to the Harrison County Community Foundation for funds to purchase instruments for the music department. The grant was approved. He started a perfect attendance program. The bank provides a bike for each nine-week grading period. Each student with perfect attendance is eligible for the bike drawing.

Members of the bank staff go to the school once a week to read to students. Several employees spend time one-on-one with students who have fallen behind on their reading skills. They provided workers for the school's Fall Festival. "This allowed the parents who normally worked the booths to spend time at the event with their kids," Smith said.

The staff helped at the Turtle Derby, a play on the Kentucky Derby. The kids build a track and race turtles in an effort to collect canned goods. "Those small Greenhead Turtles are actually pretty fast running down the track," Smith said.

The bank writes out the occasional check as well. Recently, it donated funds to supply the school with five delivered subscriptions of the Louisville CourierJournal as well as subscriptions to various magazines.

Smith worked with the school's principal, John Carnes, and its librarian, Sally Welsh to match the bank staff's schedule with the needs of the school. When Carnes retired this year, the bank donated a digital camcorder to the school in his name.

"First Harrison Bank certainly went beyond all expectations in helping New Middletown Elementary," wrote Carnes in a letter to Harrod. "Aaron has been a master at coordinating activities and suggesting ways your bank could support our school. Certainly this speaks highly of your bank and its staff."

A third-grader Smith tutored one-on-one was reading at a first grade level. After working with her for weeks, she began to sharply improve. "There were other people involved, but I know I made a difference, and that feels very good, Smith said."