United Way Northwest Indiana receives $50,561 at annual Centier Bank check presentation 

On Monday, February 9, United Way Northwest Indiana celebrated at Centier Bank’s corporate office for a check presentation from the bank’s annual workplace campaign. Centier Bank provided a check for the amount of $50,561.20 that will help United Way continue to change lives in Northwest Indiana, increasing the 10-year total of donations to nearly $500,000.

Chris White, president and CEO of United Way Northwest Indiana, values Centier Bank for the consistent support over the years.

“Centier Bank has been one of our biggest supporters of United Way in both Lake and Porter County before the merger, and they continue to be there for us year after year,” White said. “It means the world for us to work with them. It’s part of their mission to get their people engaged and volunteering in the community. We’re really happy to have them engaged for Day of Caring.”

United Way is motivated to use these funds to not only support the Level Up program but also help residents of Northwest Indiana dealing with financial instability find answers.

“There are so many families who are struggling to get by week after week that have so many other needs,” White said. “We know that there is a shortage of space in after school programs. As we move forward, you’re going to see us doing more work around children and food insecurity. About 42% of our population lives below the average threshold. They’re working, and they’re getting by, but they are one crisis away from having that collapse. We want to make sure we’ve got a Region that provides financial stability and support for everybody to thrive.”

The Centier Bank campaign was led by its associates, who handled everything from encouraging donations to volunteering their time and skills in the community. Community Relations Supervisor Ashley Stephan has been supporting the workplace campaign since taking it over in 2020, and she’s encouraged by the amount of United Way location Centier Bank has been able to help through its annual donations and the participation of Centier Bank associates.

“I have been the manager of our internal workplace campaign since 2020. My focus has been on increasing our associates’ involvement, which nearly doubled our participation rate from 2022 to 2023,” she said. “That was a huge win for us. It is the largest dollar amount that we were able to raise, but again, it’s just that impact that we are able to make for so many clients in the United Way locations, but also to get our associates involved with it”

Anthony Contrucci, president of First Bancshares, Centier Bank’s parent company, believes that this campaign is a great example of what Centier Bank is all about.

“I am immensely grateful to everyone who made this generous donation possible,” said Contrucci. “Through this fundraising or community relations campaign, the Centier team has once again showcased our commitment to giving back and creating meaningful impact in our communities.”

The partnership between United Way and Centier Bank has been strong for a decade, and the annual campaign is an exciting time for both organizations to put the community first. This year marked the highest-ever participation rate from Centier Bank’s associates, setting a record-breaking donation. 

“Our passion for the United Way remains strong and I was excited to see that this year’s campaign marks a significant milestone for us,” Contrucci expressed. “What I am most proud of is that this campaign is truly led by our associates. It is their passion and generosity that inspires me! I am blessed to be able to work alongside these caring individuals, the Centier family. It has been fantastic to observe the increase in the associate’s participation rate year after year, and remarkable that this year marks both our highest participation rate and largest dollar contribution in the history of our participation in this impactful campaign.”

Centier Bank admires how United Way has a like-minded vision for the community. United Way is grateful to have this annual opportunity to strengthen their relationship and serve a valuable cause at the same time.

“In a nutshell, they just set the example here for others to follow,” White said. “Centier Bank is engaged with our communities every year, and we know that we can depend on our relationship with them. We want to make sure that we continue to earn their support because they’re setting the standard for others.”

For more information on United Way of Northwest Indiana, you can visit unitedwaynwi.org.