BIRMINGHAM, Ala.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
If the Pittsburgh Steelers are playing, it will take something serious to get Dave Leonard away from the TV. One autumn Sunday in 2014, Leonard got the kind of call that changed his day.
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Dave Leonard of Regions Bank in Houston, Texas, pictured with his wife, Jennifer, daughter, Matson, and foster dog, Sheba, who lost her ear due to abuse. Sheba stayed with the Leonards for three weeks before Rescued Pets Movement found her a forever home in Colorado. (Photo: Business Wire)
And saved a life.
After just a few words over the phone, Leonard was ready to make the 30-minute drive to an animal shelter before the shelter euthanized an abused rescue dog. He set aside his terrible towel – the hallmark of Steeler fans – and hit the road.
“Tiger was badly abused and scared. It took us 45 minutes just to coax him from under a bench in the shelter lobby,” Leonard recalled first meeting the dog. “But within two days of being in our home, he was playing football with us in our yard.”
That experience with Tiger began Leonard’s journey as a rescue foster parent. In the last three years, Leonard, a Consumer Banking Manager for Regions Bank in Houston, has brought more than 50 dogs into his home and nurtured them back to health until they can be adopted.
Regions Bank today announced that Leonard is the June 2017 recipient of the Regions Bank Better Life Award. The Better Life Award is the top honor given to a Regions associate for outstanding dedication and job performance, as well as exemplary involvement and commitment to the community.
In addition to the recognition, Regions donates $1,000 in the name of the recipient to a nonprofit organization of the winner’s choice. Leonard chose Rescued Pets Movement (RPM), a three-year-old nonprofit organization in Houston that has placed nearly 20,000 rescue animals in forever homes nationwide.
“We have at least one dog on any given week from RPM. Their mission and the number of dogs they’ve saved is so impressive to us,” said Leonard. “We pride ourselves in knowing that we’re helping them chip away at a problem. We know we’re not moving mountains, but it’s powerful to know that you’re saving a life and helping to place an animal in a loving home. It’s very rewarding.”
A video highlighting Leonard and his work with rescued animals is available on the Regions Financial YouTube channel.
About The Better Life Award
The Better Life Award is presented monthly to a Regions associate who lives the company’s mission to make life better for customers, associates and the communities Regions serves, and who is an example of the company’s values:
- Put People First
- Do What Is Right
- Focus On Your Customer
- Reach Higher
- Enjoy Life
Regions associates are nominated for the award by their managers and peers. Regions Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Grayson Hall honors recipients at the company’s headquarters in Birmingham, Alabama, at a meeting broadcast to offices throughout the communities Regions serves. In addition to the recognition, associates who earn the Better Life Award receive an additional week of vacation, a crystal award, and a $1,000 donation is made in their name to the nonprofit organization of their choice.
About Regions Financial Corporation
Regions Financial Corporation (NYSE:RF), with $125 billion in assets, is a member of the S&P 500 Index and is one of the nation’s largest full-service providers of consumer and commercial banking, wealth management, mortgage and insurance products and services. Regions serves customers across the South, Midwest and Texas, and through its subsidiary, Regions Bank, operates approximately 1,500 banking offices and 1,900 ATMs. Additional information about Regions and its full line of products and services can be found at www.regions.com.
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