Paying It Forward by Giving Back

It was launched by two New York nonprofits in 2012 as an annual day promoting philanthropy. It’s become a national movement that could surpass more than $3 billion in donations this year alone.

Held the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, Giving Tuesday encourages people to support nonprofits through volunteerism, donations and advocacy. This marks the third year Regions Bank has celebrated Giving Tuesday with contributions to our community partners in several states. Below are a few examples – and see some additional ways bank associates are committed to making an impact all year long here.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Missouri – St. Louis, Mo.
For nearly 120 years, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America has been partnering adults with youth to create lasting connections. Regions Bank in Greater St. Louis supports Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Missouri’s (BBBSEMO) ABC Today program promoting attendance, behavior and course performance at 19 area schools. The bank is also involved with the nonprofit’s “101 Bigs in 101 Days” campaign matching 101 adult mentors with 101 “Littles” in just 101 days.

To celebrate Giving Tuesday, Regions Bank leaders in Greater St. Louis presented a $30,000 contribution to benefit both programs. Read more about BBBSEMO’s commitment to shaping strong, educated and confident young adults here.

225GIVES – Baton Rouge, La.
It began in 2020 as a way for people in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to step up and support nonprofits serving in new and urgent ways. It continues as a vital source of support during uncertain times. For the second year in a row, Capital Area United Way (CAUW) is hosting 225GIVES, a regional Giving Tuesday event to raise funds for over 200 nonprofits.

Regions contributed $10,000 both to support important community work and raise awareness of the critical roles nonprofits serve.

Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas – Jonesboro, Ark.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates 38 million Americans are considered food insecure, meaning they do not have consistent access to enough food. Each week, the Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas (NEA), one of 200 Feeding America food banks nationwide, works with 140 partners to distribute nearly 120,000 meals to people in need throughout 12 counties.

Regions Bank in Jonesboro has supported the Food Bank of NEA for several years through financial donations and associate canned food drives. For Giving Tuesday 2021, the bank donated $1,000 to the nonprofit, resulting in 10,000 meals for our Northeast Arkansas neighbors.

Humphreys County Holiday Assistance Program – Waverly, Tenn.
17 inches of driving, non-stop rain in just 24 hours. It resulted in catastrophic losses and significant damage for the residents of Waverly, Tennessee, this past August. Toys collected by the Humphreys County Holiday Assistance Program, donated to local families each holiday season through the Angel Tree program, were also ruined in the flood.

On Giving Tuesday, Regions Bank in Waverly presented a $1,500 contribution to the Humphreys County Assistance Program to replenish some of the lost toys. Bank associates are also personally donating toys to make the holiday season a little bit brighter for area children.

J.L. King Center – Starkville, Miss.
J.L. King Center is providing a pathway to sustainable jobs for people in Starkville, Mississippi. For more than 50 years, the nonprofit has served people across Oktibbeha County to help them with job readiness.

For Giving Tuesday, Regions Bank made a $5,000 donation to support financial literacy programming, a key part of the nonprofit’s Pathway to Prosperity program.

Read more about J.L. King Center’s work here.

LISC Central Illinois – Peoria, Ill.
Across 44 states, the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) is dedicated to equipping struggling communities with the capital, strategy and expertise to become places where people can thrive. One way the nonprofit does this is through LISC’s 100 Financial Opportunity Centers, places helping residents find good jobs, improve their credit, build their savings and expand their overall net worth.

Regions Bank in Peoria presented LISC Central Illinois with a $25,000 Giving Tuesday contribution to advance this work in our commitment to economic development and financial education. The gift will support Financial Opportunity Centers in Peoria, Springfield and Bloomington.

Moore Community House – Biloxi, Miss.
For nearly 100 years, Moore Community House in Biloxi, Mississippi has served the families of the Mississippi Gulf Coast by providing early childhood education, and workforce training for women in the construction and advanced manufacturing fields.

One of the nonprofit’s programs – Women in Construction – prepares women for careers in apprenticeship and nontraditional career pathways to support their families and helps employers meet the demands of the advanced manufacturing industry and skilled craft trades.

For Giving Tuesday, Regions Bank is supporting the mission of Moore Community House with a $3,500 contribution to support the Women in Construction program.

Ready Kids! – Pensacola, Fla.
Maximum potential. Maximum results. In Northwest Florida, Ready Kids! helps children go the extra mile in preparing for kindergarten and beyond. The nonprofit does it through a three-pronged approach that includes mentoring pre-k students, building capacity for families to enhance learning at home, and providing classroom resources to teachers.

On Giving Tuesday, Regions Bank presented $5,000 to ReadyKids! to help close gaps made wider by COVID-19’s learning disruptions and to support families on their journeys to help children academically achieve.

The STAR Center – Jackson, Tenn.
Their motto is “Education, Employment, Independence.” Their work was inspired by the founders’ quest to help their own children. For more than 30 years, The STAR Center in Jackson, Tennessee, has been empowering children and adults with disabilities to reach their full potential by providing employment programs, therapy services, assistive technology, in-home companion care and more.

Regions Bank in Jackson presented a $5,000 gift to The STAR Center in celebration of Giving Tuesday. The contribution will support a workforce development program for adults.

Still Serving Veterans – Huntsville, Ala.
Personalized attention to address veterans’ needs.

Honoring their military service.

A one-stop shop for military families.

In Huntsville, Alabama, Still Serving Veterans is helping veterans and their families find post-service employment, access their VA benefits, and connect with the resources needed to build civilian lives after military service. Working with a team of veteran counselors, clients receive personalized attention to help access their benefits. From education support to long-term care assistance, Still Serving Veterans counselors work on-on-one to support those who dedicated their service to our country.

For Giving Tuesday, Regions Bank is making a $10,000 contribution to support the assistance and benefits program.

To learn more about Still Serving Veterans, visit its website here.

Women are Dreamers Too – Atlanta, Ga.
The leaders of this organization believe every child deserves a safe home, every child deserves a violence-free community, and every woman deserves the self-sustaining economic wherewithal to care for her children and herself. That belief daily inspires Women Are Dreamers Too- wadt, an Atlanta, Georgia, nonprofit to provide a powerful response to domestic violence – and economic one. On Giving Tuesday, Regions Bank donated $5,000 to WADT to aid them in their mission of breaking the vicious cycle of poverty through investments in micro-enterprise training for the women victims of domestic violence, and after-school math and science tutoring for the children of victims.

Take a look back at how Regions supported additional nonprofits during Giving Tuesday in 2019 and 2020.