State Bank & Trust Contributes Large Donation to Help Homeless Babies

ATLANTA - June 14, 2013 - PRLog -- Even in a challenging economy, metro Atlanta area companies, community organizations, and individuals dramatically increased their support of HomeAid Atlanta’s 12th Annual Essentials for Young Lives® Drive, held April 29 – May 6, 2013 in honor of Mother’s Day.

The leader among the donors was State Bank & Trust Company.  Their commitment to the campaign was phenomenal. State Bank made the drive FUN for their employees by creating contest around the drive and awarding prizes for best display and most items collected.  Employees enjoyed giving back to those in need while also participating in this great team building activity.  

State Bank surpassed last year’s solid performance for the campaign, collecting almost $6,500 from its branch collection centers.  The bank collected more than double the number of diapers they collected from last year, as well as 217 jars of baby food and other critical baby items for distribution to local homeless shelters. State Bank acted as a public collection site at seven branch locations, setting up creative displays, involving employees, customers and the public.  In addition to collection essential items, a large financial donation was contributed.

“State Bank exceeded all expectations and did an incredible job of engaging our clients to participate,” says Dale Boyd, Senior Vice President, Homebuilder Finance Group and a board member of HomeAid Atlanta.  “Our clients wanted to participate.  Giving money proved to be an easy way for those that didn’t get a chance to buy an item to do that.  Using the money contributed, essential items were purchased at Sam’s Club and provided to community organizations.”

Once again, State Bank held a friendly competition among branches, awarding prizes for best decorated collection location and most items collected.  Judges of the branch displays, State Bank employees Sean Hardin, Corporate Strategy Manager and Mark Speight, Commercial Real Estate Portfolio Manager were employees with new babies at home.  Receiving this year’s award for the best decorated branch was the Alpharetta branch on Old Milton Parkway.  Winners of the decoration contest will be treated to lunch by market Presidents. Winners of the most collected items will receive a behind-the-scenes tour of the Georgia Aquarium.  Additionally, the “most collected” winners were awarded the “Golden Bottle” award, created by State Bank specifically for this drive each year.

“This year’s drive was the most successful to date,” says Jean Hilyard, Program Manager for HomeAid Atlanta. “Overall, more than 76,000 items were collected and shared with partner shelters in the Atlanta area. State Bank & Trust Company, a core supporter, was the largest contributor to the 2013 drive.  HomeAid thanks bank employees Dale Boyd and Melissa Turner for acting as key organizers for the event.  HomeAid sincerely appreciates the bank’s employees and clients for their kindness and generosity in assisting homeless babies and their mothers.”

State Bank & Trust Company’s participation contributed to the community’s combined efforts and made 2013 HomeAid Atlanta’s most successful Essentials for Young Lives® Drive yet.  Donations were distributed to local nonprofit organizations serving homeless families, including: Action Ministries (Atlanta), Community Advanced Practice Nurses (Atlanta), Decatur Cooperative Ministry (Decatur), Genesis – A New Life (Atlanta), My House (Cherokee County), Nicholas House (Atlanta), Phoenix Pass (Conyers), Rainbow Village (Duluth), Tapestry Youth Ministries (College Park and Fairburn), and The Drake House (Roswell).

HomeAid Atlanta, established in 2001 as a nonprofit organization working in partnership with the Greater Atlanta Home Builder’s Association, builds and maintains dignified housing where temporarily homeless families and individuals in metro Atlanta can rebuild their lives.  For more information about HomeAid Atlanta, visit www.homeaidatlanta.org.