OBA EDUCATION FOUNDATION The OBA Education Foundation achieved its ambitious “50 Forward” campaign goal of raising $50,000 in Q4 of 2024 via a dynamic fundraising appeal during an awards dinner at the Oregon Bank Leadership Symposium. The funds will support the Foundation’s mission to provide financial literacy resources and grow the talent pipeline for Oregon's banking community. Foundation board member Joan Reukauf, president and CEO of Pacific Coast Banking School (PCBS), and OBA board member Ron Green, president and CEO of Oregon Pacific Bank, led the fundraising effort. They highlighted how the OBA Education Foundation supports impactful programs like BankWork$ and FinAbility, which are changing lives and empowering individuals. Reukauf and Green invited BankWork$ Program Coordinator Johanna Redmond to the stage to introduce the program, which offers free, eight-week trainings to prepare individuals from under-resourced communities for careers in the financial services industry. Redmond then introduced BankWork$ graduate Nith Vinavong, now a personal banker at KeyBank, who shared how the program helped her secure a stable and rewarding career in banking. Inspiring Stories Fuel Success: OBA Education Foundation Reaches $50K ‘50 Forward’ Fundraising Goal Following Vinavong’s testimony, FinAbility Co-Founder and Executive Director Stacy Sawin discussed her nonprofit’s mission to financially empower survivors of domestic abuse. FinAbility provides trauma-informed financial resources to help survivors regain control of their finances and live independently. Sawin then invited Keri Daniel to speak. Daniel shared her personal experience as a survivor of domestic violence and the challenges she faced in achieving financial independence. She highlighted how FinAbility’s resources were instrumental in her journey toward financial security and freedom. The compelling stories from Vinavong and Daniel underscored the importance of the OBA Education Foundation’s initiatives and inspired attendees to contribute generously. Over $27,000 was raised during the dinner, with another $7,126 raised during the silent auction held prior to the dinner. In total, the Foundation exceeded its goal and raised $58,622 in the final quarter of the year. The OBA Education Foundation extends its heartfelt gratitude to all donors and participants who made this achievement possible. The funds raised will continue to support programs like BankWork$ and FinAbility as well as the expansion of programs aimed at furthering education and empowerment within Oregon’s banking community and beyond. Stacy Sawin, co-founder and executive director of FinAbility, shares the nonprofit’s mission before introducing domestic abuse survivor Keri Daniel to provide a testimonial. Ron Green, Oregon Pacific Bank, and Joan Reukauf, PCBS, stand alongside in support during a Foundation fundraising effort. Winter 2025 • BANKING MATTERS 37
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