FirstBank pays $8,000 of grocery bills ahead of Arizona Gives Day
Employees surprise customers at three Valley Fry’s locations to inspire donations
Posted 3/26/21
FirstBank, one of the nation’s largest privately held banks with a focus on “banking for good,” surprised shoppers at Fry's stores in Ahwatukee, Goodyear and Gilbert on March 25 by paying their grocery bills as part of the bank’s annual Give It Forward campaign promoting Arizona Gives Day.
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SPIRIT OF GIVING
FirstBank pays $8,000 of grocery bills ahead of Arizona Gives Day
Employees surprise customers at three Valley Fry’s locations to inspire donations
Posted
ABOUT FIRSTBANK
FirstBank began providing banking services in Colorado in 1963. Today, it maintains more than $24 billion in assets and operates more than 110 branch locations across Arizona, Colorado and California. FirstBank offers a variety of checking accounts, savings accounts, home equity loans, mortgages, and a full range of commercial banking services, including financing, treasury management and deposit accounts. Since 2000, it has been recognized as a leader in corporate philanthropy, contributing nearly $70 million and thousands of volunteer hours to charitable organizations. The company is also unique in that a large portion of its stock is owned by management and employees, giving employees a financial stake in the bank’s success through its Employee Stock Ownership Program. For more information, visit efirstbank.com.
FirstBank, one of the nation’s largest privately held banks with a focus on “banking for good,” surprised shoppers at Fry's stores in Ahwatukee, Goodyear and Gilbert on March 25 by paying their grocery bills as part of the bank’s annual Give It Forward campaign promoting Arizona Gives Day.
In total, FirstBank, which has locations around the Valley, covered the cost of nearly $8,000 worth of grocery bills, according to a release.
When customers arrived at the three stores to pick up their online orders, FirstBank and Fry’s staff delivered their bagged groceries and notified them the bank had covered their entire bill.
In return, FirstBank asked families to consider “giving it forward,” even if it’s just $5, to a charity of their choice during this year’s Arizona Gives Day. The annual 24-hour online giving campaign organized by the Alliance of Arizona Nonprofits will be held Tuesday, April 6.
“Last year’s Arizona Gives Day came at a time when nonprofits were beginning to struggle with the ramifications of the coronavirus pandemic, and the community truly stepped up to help these organizations,” said Joel Johnson, FirstBank’s East Valley market president. “We hope this act of kindness will inspire Arizonans to once again show their support for a nonprofit they care about, no matter how big or small the donation.”
This is the fifth year FirstBank has held its Give it Forward campaign to promote Arizona Gives Day.
Last year, it surprised pet owners at a veterinary clinic by paying their vet bills. In 2019, FirstBank employees posed as restaurant servers to pay for patrons’ tabs. In 2018, the bank pumped free fuel for drivers.
Thanks in part to these efforts, Arizona Gives Day has experienced year-over-year increases in new donors and donations, the release stated.
FirstBank has been the presenting partner of Arizona Gives Day since its inception in 2013, helping the program raise more than $23 million for Arizona nonprofits.
In 2020, the Alliance of Arizona Nonprofits with FirstBank’s support, promoted and fundraised a Nonprofit Emergency Relief Fund to raise additional money for nonprofits who missed out on crucial funding. The result was a record-setting Arizona Gives Day, with $6.1 million raised for over 900 nonprofits.
For more information about Arizona Gives Day or to make a donation, visit AZGives.org.
