IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
First Foundation Inc. (NASDAQ: FFWM), a financial services company with two wholly-owned operating subsidiaries, First Foundation Advisors and First Foundation Bank, today announced the recipients of its 2018 ‘Supporting Our Communities,’ a philanthropic initiative that aids local charitable organizations.
Driven by the purpose to help nonprofits achieve sustainable growth and reinforce their respective missions and causes, ‘Supporting Our Communities’ leverages the talents of First Foundation’s employees to help nonprofits make a sound impact in the community. The initiative provides assistance with critical components of the nonprofit organization’s mission in the form of pro bono consulting services and an organizational and fundraising capacity grant. For organizations that do not need consulting, the initiative offers a community development grant championing programs that are focused on low-to-moderate income individuals and communities typically supporting causes such as financial literacy, affordable housing, public health, at-risk youth, veterans, and economic development in underserved areas. The initiative seeks to make an impact beyond just writing a check.
“At First Foundation, we look to engage and support philanthropic activity in the communities in which we work and live,” said Scott F. Kavanaugh, CEO of First Foundation. “Through the ‘Supporting Our Communities’ initiative we give back in an impactful and valuable manner, providing us the opportunity to acknowledge organizations that are making a difference. We are consistently impressed at the numerous organizations that dedicate their time and resources to improve the lives of those around them and we are more than happy to support such great work.”
The organizational and fundraising capacity grant recipients receive First Foundation’s professional guidance on fundraising; donor cultivation and stewardship; gift planning design; staff and board training; campaign planning; board building; development of critical policies and protocols; organizational planning; and counsel on ensuring best practices in their own fiscal matters such as cash management, investment policies, and strategies.
Along with a monetary offering, those receiving the community development grant are also given the opportunity to partner with First Foundation employees through various volunteer services as well as board and committee leadership.
The 2018 ‘Supporting Our Communities’ grant recipients include:
- After School All Stars, Honolulu, HI
- Feeding Hawaii Together, Honolulu, HI
- Teach for America, Honolulu, HI
- JFK Memorial/Ophelia Project, Palm Desert, CA
- Olive Crest, Indian Wells and Orange County, CA
- Girls Inc., Costa Mesa, CA
- Wise Place, Santa Ana, CA
- Alzheimer’s Association OC, Orange, CA
- Habitat for Humanity, Santa Ana, CA
- OC Rescue Mission, Tustin, CA
- Working Wardrobes, Irvine, CA
- Communities in Schools, Las Vegas, NV
- Serving Our Kids, Henderson, NV
- Center for Pacific Asian Family, Los Angeles, CA
- Dan Eldon Foundation/Creative Visions, Malibu, CA
- LA Christian Health Centers, Los Angeles, CA
- YWCA Pasadena/Foothill Valley, Pasadena, CA
- Through the Looking Glass, Berkeley, CA
- City Team Oakland, Oakland, CA
- La Maestra Community Health Centers, San Diego, CA
- Kitchens for Good, San Diego, CA
- Junior League, San Diego, CA
- Boys & Girls Club of Placer County, Auburn, CA
- Placer Community Foundation, Auburn, CA
- Team Giving, Newcastle, CA
- Imperial Valley Food Bank, El Centro, CA
“This year’s recipients were carefully evaluated by employees representing each community, and recommendations were made to our Community Impact Team and senior leadership based on our ability to make a meaningful impact to the mission of the nonprofit,” said Marty Dutch, Vice President of Philanthropic Services at First Foundation. “We look forward to working closely with each organization to build a long-lasting support system to enhance their ongoing and upcoming programs.”
First Foundation’s ‘Supporting our Communities’ initiative is part of its larger community development program. In addition to the annual grant initiative, First Foundation offers direct contributions and donations to qualified nonprofits as well as employee engagement opportunities through volunteer and charitable work activities. Since inception, First Foundation has awarded cash grants and consulting services valued over $2.5 million, volunteered approximately 4,500 hours across the Company, and served approximately 350 organizations in Southern California, Northern California, Las Vegas, Nevada, and Honolulu, Hawaii.
For more information about First Foundation’s Community Development Program, please visit www.firstfoundationinc.com/community.
About First Foundation
First Foundation, a financial institution founded in 1990, provides personal banking, business banking and private wealth management. The Company has offices in California, Nevada and Hawaii with headquarters in Irvine, California. For more information, please visit www.firstfoundationinc.com.
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