Local bank donation helps at-risk youth in DeWitt county
January 11, 2022
Clinton, IL, January 11, 2021 - First National Bank and Trust Company recently donated $2,500 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Illinois (BBBSCIL) to help support matching five children with caring adults for one year including volunteer recruitment screening, training and monthly match support activities. This gift will also assist BBBSCIL with marketing and recruitment of potential volunteers so 100 more children on the waiting list in the surrounding areas can be matched.
“First National Bank is honored to be able to give back and help students in DeWitt county. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Illinois is doing important work with our local youth – a value that aligns very much with our bank,” said Josh Shofner, President of First National Bank and Trust Company.
The mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters is to create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth. BBBSCIL has been serving underprivileged youth from single-parent families for more than 30 years and serves DeWitt, Champaign, Ford, Iroquois, Livingston, Macon, McLean, Morgan, Piatt, Sangamon, and Vermilion counties.
As stated from their website, BBBSCIL helps approximately 800 youth annually. Most mentoring and activities are currently happening virtually. From the mentoring program, findings state of those youth matched 46% are less likely to begin illegal drug use, 27% less likely to begin using alcohol, 52% less likely to skip school and are more equipped to work effectively with their immediate family, friends and school officials.
“COVID-19 has impacted our organization significantly over the last two years. Only through the continued kindness and generosity of partners like First National Bank & Trust Company have we been able to continue to pair more youth who need and deserve a positive mentoring relationship,” said Jeanne Stahlheber, CEO, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Illinois.
The recent partnership will help at-risk youth in the local Clinton area immediately. To get involved or learn more about Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Illinois visit www.bbbscil.org.
Pictured left to right: Danielle Decker (FNBT) and Corey Burrows (BBBS) and Amy Sandage (FNBT)
About First National Bank & Trust Company: First National Bank & Trust Company is a community bank located in Clinton, Illinois as well as Arcadia, Whitehall and Independence, Wisconsin. Dedicated to community prosperity, the First National Bank and Trust Company was chartered in 1872 under the name DeWitt County National Bank and became part of the TS Banking Group in 2017. With $400 million in assets, First National Bank and Trust Company is dedicated to community reinvestment and gives 10% of its net income back to the community. For more information, visit firstnbtc.com.