In April, Associated Bank assisted Golden House, a nonprofit organization that provides shelter and support services to victims of domestic violence and abuse, by providing several key organizational needs that will help Golden House better serve their clients.
Associated Bank has a long-standing relationship with the Green Bay-based organization through our colleagues’ many volunteer efforts — in particular board member Angie DeWitt, director of management accounting. DeWitt served as the main facilitator in allowing Associated Bank to provide the following services:
- Technology Upgrade
Associated Bank donated two desktop computers and two laptops to Golden House for their resource room, a quiet space where clients can study, take online courses, search for a new job or find a new, safe home for their family.
As part of the donation, several Operations & Technology colleagues volunteered their time, outside of work, to wipe the computer’s hard drives and prepare them for use. These services were provided free of charge, saving the organization several hundred dollars in preparation fees, in addition to the equipment cost.
“This donation makes it possible for victims of domestic abuse to rebuild their lives and create dreams for their future,” said Koren Petersen, communications & development coordinator for Golden House. “Having access to computers in our resource room means clients no longer need to travel or find transportation to utilize a computer for education and research.”
- Financial Education
Stan Kroll, business development officer - bank at work, and Matt Laubenstein, senior bank manager, recently conducted a financial education session with Golden House staff on the topics of understanding credit and preventing identity theft. The helpful tips the staff learned will be shared with Golden House clients as part of the support services they provide.
“The presentations were very engaging,” one staff member stated. “It even inspired me to apply for my very first credit card!”
Kroll and Laubenstein plan to meet with Golden House staff throughout the year to continue discussions around financial education topics.
- Annual Phone-A-Thon
Each spring, Golden House hosts a phone-a-thon as a way to connect with donors, share how it’s making a difference in the lives of its clients, and raise money for their cause. For this year’s event, Associated Bank offered space at its Green Bay Service Center, which took place on April 23. More than $6,000 was raised in just two hours in continued support of Golden House services in our community.
“The donations and support offered by Associated Bank and its colleagues have a direct impact on the individuals and families Golden House serves,” DeWitt stated. “Our partnership with Golden House is just one example of how our volunteerism is making our communities stronger.”