First Bank Rolls Up Big Score For Junior Achievement Program

Thanks to branch fundraising efforts, First Bank employees in the Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego County helped raise $8,940 in November to support Junior Achievement of Southern California (JASoCal).

First Bank’s fundraising efforts, which included selling Paper Pop Cards and the raffling off of gift baskets and even a surfboard, culminated in the annual Play-4-JA Bowl-a-Thon at Fountain Valley Bowl in Fountain Valley, California.

First Bank branches participating in Play4JA include: Newport Beach; Huntington Beach; Yorba Linda; Goldenwest; Irvine; Westminster; Marina del Rey; Santa Barbara; Santa Maria; Ventura; Pacific Coast Highway; Laguna Niguel; Costa Mesa; Corona; Lakewood; Riverside; and Westside.

This was First Bank’s ninth year participating in this annual fundraiser. In that time, First Bank has been able to raise over $55,000. In 2015, First Bank employees in Orange County, Los Angeles and San Diego counties have already provided over 625 volunteer hours to JA.

Founded in 1954, JASoCal is the Southern California arm of Junior Achievement. Today, 25 experimental programs are offered to students during the school day and through afterschool programs.

First Bank is one of the largest privately owned banks in the country with over $5.93 billion in assets and 111 locations in California, Florida, Illinois, and Missouri.

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Photo Captions:

Photo 1 – First Bank customer Dan Davilla was the winner of a donated surfboard from Jack’s Surfboards in Huntington Beach during a raffle at First Bank’s Goldenwest St. branch (16900 Goldenwest St., Huntington Beach). With Davilla is Julie Bechtol, First Bank Customer Service Representative.

Photo 2 – First Bank customer Mark Nelson was the winner of a gift basket during a raffle at First Bank’s Santa Barbara branch. With Nelson is Keri Canady, First Bank Branch Manager.

Photo 3 – From left, guest Brian Moorehead with First Bank’s Susan Montoya and Ashley Jue.

Photo 4 – From left, guest Howard Shi with First Bank’s Sue Gee, Debra Wanbaugh, Susan Wang, Joan Hundley, and Ashley Jue.

Photo 5 - From left, First Bank’s Sophak Ok and Lynn Huynh with Lien Phung (guest) and First Bank’s Joan Hundley.

Photo 6 – From left, First Bank’s William Hawkins, Ashley Jue, Susan Montoya, and Julie Bechtol with guest Brian Moorehead.