Six Local Nonprofits Recognized
WACO, Texas (December 29, 2014) — All six winning nonprofits in the 2014 First National Bank McGregor (FNB McGregor) Charity Champions program have been named and recognized. This initiative was launched in fall 2014 to commemorate FNB McGregor’s 125th anniversary, while making a lasting investment in Central Texas charitable organizations.
2014 Charity Champions were chosen from 29 applicant organizations. Those winners were:
CASA of McLennan and Hill Counties
Mission: Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of McLennan and Hill Counties is a local chapter of a national organization that works as an advocate for children caught up in the state’s Child Protective Services and foster care legal systems. Its volunteers talk with the children and everyone in their lives, using the information they gather to inform judges and others of what the children need and what will be the best permanent home for them.
Need: In Central Texas, CASA of McLennan & Hill Counties currently serves more than 240 children and is in need of additional financial support and volunteers.
AVANCE Waco
– Mission: Research-based and proven for its effectiveness in bringing meaningful, measurable change in the lives of participants, AVANCE helps low-income families break the cycle of poverty. Coupling parent education related to child health and development with early childhood education for children, and later ESL or GED classes and Workforce Development to promote educational achievement for parents, AVANCE provides a two-generational intervention that changes the present and future of each community, one family at a time.
– Need: Additional funding to increase class capacity and a second bus to transport families to and from educational programs.
Generations Adoptions
– Mission: Generations Adoptions is a non-profit offering a complete network of care for birth parents placing a child for adoption, for children in need and for adoptive parents. Adoption is a lifelong journey, and for 10 years Generations Adoptions has surrounded 189 Christian families with support for the journey. There is no greater gift than to give a family to a child.
– Need: Its two most immediate needs are monetary donations to expand its education/training resources for families and an upgrade to its technology infrastructure, including six computers, iPads and updated software.
Family Abuse Center
– Mission: The Family Abuse Center is a 55-bed facility, providing emergency shelter from domestic violence, 24/7/365 hotline and supportive services to an eight-county service area. Its mission is to eliminate domestic violence in Central Texas by sheltering victims of domestic violence and by preventing abuse from occurring through intervention and education. Other services at the shelter include flood, clothing, medication, transportation, group and individual counseling for adults and children, case management, legal and resources advocacy. Because love shouldn’t hurt.
– Need: Continual needs at the center are twin blankets, towels and pillows for the
women, men and children sheltered there.
Waco Habitat for Humanity
– Mission: Habitat for Humanity sees a world where everyone has a decent place to live. Seeking to put God’s love into action, Waco Habitat brings people together to build homes, communities and hope. Since 1986, Waco Habitat has partnered with hard-working families to built 156 new homes and repair 372 owner-occupied homes in McLennan County. Global gifts by Waco Habitat have build 158 homes in El Salvador, Nicaragua. Each year another 50 families have a simple, durable place to live in dignity and safety. Decent shelter and decent communities should be a matter of conscience and action for all. Visit: wacohabitat.org/home.
– Need: To continue its work in the community, Waco Habitat for Humanity is looking for two new house sponsors at $45,000 each, 10 critical-home-repair sponsors at $5,000 and handicapped-accessible wheelchair ramp sponsors at $1,500 each. In addition, the organization needs to control the climate in the “Re-Store,” its fundraising store. They need to raise $25,000 to pay for spray foam insulation for the 14,000 square foot warehouse, along with heating, ventilation and air conditioning estimated to cost another $50,000. Research shows that climate-controlled warehouses yield a ten percent increase in retail sales. Waco Habitat for Humanity Executive Director Brenda Shuttlesworth believes these improvements will pay for themselves in two years.
Meals & Wheels Waco
– Mission: Meals & Wheels is a nonprofit agency that nourishes the bodies and spirits of more than 1,000 older adults. By bringing a hot lunch to someone’s front door, it provides a lifeline to the outside world for older adults and disabled people. In addition to hot lunches, its volunteers also provide human contact and the comfort that comes with the knowledge that someone cares. It provides hope and independence through daily contacts with volunteers and staff. Staff link clients to supportive services, such as Pet Meals, Groceries to Go, and benefit programs that can help a client achieve a better quality of life. Caring for the older adults in our community is one of life’s greatest callings. Visit: mealsandwheelswaco.org.
– Need: Meals & Wheels Waco needs additional volunteers able to spend one hour per week to bring a meal and a smile to 10 homebound individuals. In addition, the organization is in need of 100 coolers that can hold 17 to 20 quarts of food during meal deliveries, along with additional donation and grant funding to cover meal costs.
Each organization was the focus of a marketing campaign funded by FNB McGregor, including broadcast, print and web advertising and social media efforts. A video about each nonprofit was played and its representatives honored at Baylor football games held at McLane Stadium during the sports facility’s inaugural year.
FNB McGregor will continue its Charity Champions program during the 2015 and 2016 Baylor University football seasons. Nonprofit organizations serving communities in Bell, Coryell and McLennan counties are eligible to apply as candidates.
“Each of these Charity Champions offers such an invaluable service to our community,” said FNB McGregor’s president, David Littlewood. “We look forward to naming six new winners in 2015, giving them the recognition they so deserve.”
Applications will continue to be accepted at https://www.tfnbtx.com/charity-champions. The 23-nonprofit applicants from 2014 which were not chosen as Charity Champion winners will be reconsidered as candidates for the 2015 season.
About First National Bank McGregor
Established on July 16, 1889, First National Bank McGregor is the oldest bank in McLennan County and the seventh oldest national bank in Texas still operating under its original charter. Throughout its 125-year history, First National Bank McGregor has served the personal and business banking needs of Central Texas. In 1957 the bank moved from its original location at 217 S. Main to a more modern building two blocks to the south at 401 S. Main. In 2006 the bank opened a South Bosque location on Highway 84 on the eastern edge of McGregor. The full-service South Bosque facility was established to serve the growing population between McGregor and Waco and to support the bank’s online and mobile banking initiatives, along with providing modern conveniences such as debit cards, credit cards, ATMs and Internet banking. First National Bank’s lending team offers commercial, agriculture, real estate, mortgage and auto loans, as well as personal loans, with terms designed to meet the specific customer needs. Visit the bank’s website at https://www.tfnbtx.com/ or go to http://bit.ly/FNBMcGregorFacebook or https://www.facebook.com/FNBMcGregorCharityChampions to see its Facebook pages. First National Bank McGregor is an Equal Housing Lender and Member FDIC.
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