Wells Fargo donates $9,000 to Clark County public schools

VANCOUVER, Wash. - Wells Fargo donated $1,000 each to nine schools this morning as part of its support of public education in Clark County.

The nine Wells Fargo managers whose bank branches are located closest to the schools presented the check to the schools' principals.

"We chose to give to schools that have a large percentage of students receiving subsidized or free lunches, as this is a strong indication of need," said Kellie Grant, Wells Fargo's Community Bank president for Clark County.

The schools that received the funds were:

1) Maple Grove Primary School in Battle Ground (represented by Principal Barbara Baird);
2) Hathaway Elementary in Lacamas (represented by Principal Laura Bolt);
3) Crestline Elementary in Vancouver (represented by Principal Bobby Jacobsen);
4) Orchards Elementary in Vancouver (represented by Principal Vinh Nguyen);
5) Mill Plain Elementary in Vancouver (represented by Principal Debra Alden);
6) Fruit Valley Elementary in Vancouver (represented by Principal Debbie Elliott);
7) Hazel Dell Elementary in Vancouver (represented by Principal Woody Howard);
8) Martin Luther King Elementary in Vancouver (represented by Principal Debra Hale); and,
9) Washington Elementary in Vancouver (represented by Principal Theresa David-Turner).

"Quality education is, undoubtedly, the most important investment we can make for our future and that of coming generations," said Grant. "Strong schools produce tomorrow's workforce, voters, business owners, heads of government, educators, artists, parents - the people on whom our communities depend for leadership and support."

The event attendees included Glenys Paveglio, chief of Elementary Education for Vancouver Public Schools; and Bernie Kronberger, Wells Fargo's regional Community Relations manager.

Cash grants are one of the many ways Wells Fargo supports public education. It also operates nine free history museums throughout the country, including one in Portland; its team members volunteer at local schools; it matches donations its team members give to education; it provides tuition reimbursement for its team members; and it offers three scholarship programs for its team members' children.

Wells Fargo has also developed a free, interactive, financial education program called Hands On Banking in English and Spanish to teach the basics of good money management. The principals at today's event each received a copy of the program.

"Public education is one of the major cornerstones of our corporate giving at Wells Fargo," added Tawnie Nelson, head of Wells Fargo's Business Banking team in Clark County. "About one-third of our total community involvement budget for southwest Washington and Oregon each year is targeted towards support of education,"

Founded in 1852, Wells Fargo has repeatedly been named one of the most generous firms in the nation. It employs more than 900 team members in Clark County.