This blog was written in partnership with American National Bank, the presenting sponsor of the 7th annual Omaha Gives! day.

Service, giving back, and a focus on community are an integral part of American National Bank’s (ANB) culture. From executive leadership to bank branch staff, the spirit of giving back radiates from employees across the company. And nowhere is this seen more, than during Omaha Gives! – our 24-hour online giving day.

Like, the Omaha Community Foundation, American National Bank is committed to growing a thriving community.  Their greatest resource is this community; it’s part of their heritage.  And it’s why they invest so much time and energy into building it.

We’re thrilled to have American National Bank back as the presenting sponsor of Omaha Gives! In honor of our 7th year we’re taking a look at some of the ways (and there are many more!) that ANB and its employees make their impact throughout our community.

1. Omaha Gives!

A supporter since day one, ANB is proud to return as the presenting sponsor of our community’s 24-hour online giving day. Omaha Gives! has now raised more than $42 million in seven years, annually attracting nearly 20,000 community members to donate to new and favorite nonprofits. We love the spirit and celebration that Omaha Gives! brings to our community, and we are counting down the days until this year’s big event!

2. Financial Literacy

American National Bank believes in educating youth on the importance of saving through financial literacy programs during the year. Our in-school branches are a great place for students to be introduced to banking. Youth savings accounts expose kids to money management and personal finance, providing a foundation for a smart financial future.

In addition to our in-school branches, American National Bank employees are active in the community, sharing our financial literacy platform through presentations in schools, organizations and clubs, as well as senior living.  Currently, our partnership with New Cassel Retirement Center allows us to bring the convenience of a branch and personal banker to the residents each month.

3. Volunteer Time Off (VTO)

American National Bank is proud of the commitment and dedication that many of our employees exhibit in supporting the various non-profit organizations throughout our communities. In support of this commitment, employees are provided with 24 hours of VTO to support a non-profit organization of their choice each year.

4. Employees serving as Board Members

Employees throughout American National Bank serve as Board Members at various nonprofits, sharing their passions to support the community where they work and live.

5. Corporate Philanthropy

Our commitment goes beyond dollars and cents. American National Bank has invested considerable energy and financial resources in pursuit of building stronger communities. Through corporate philanthropy, we are committed to making an impact every day. In 2018, over 370 nonprofits were supported by American National Bank.

6. Developing Youth through our partnership with Empowerment Network and Step Up program

American National Bank is proud to be a founding partner of Step-Up Omaha! program and has been involved since its inception. Step-Up Omaha! is a community-based initiative of the Empowerment Network and the City of Omaha that is responsible for connecting more than 4,500 youth and young adults ages 14-21 with community and business partners for career exploration, job training and internships. This program collaborates to bridge the employment gap and invest in the workforce of the future by recruiting, training and preparing career-minded youth and young adults in our community to make positive life choices, empowering them to fully maximize their personal potential.

In 2018, American National Bank sponsored eight Step-Up interns who expressed an interest in the bank, specifically because they had a desire to learn about the banking industry and managing money. The interns came ready to explore various careers throughout the bank and were excited to gain real-world experience. We were fortunate enough to have two students join our staff as full-time employees after their internships and are looking forward to hosting more interns this upcoming summer.

7. Employee Jeans Days

For the last two decades, American National Bank has been incentivizing staff to support its employee-driven philanthropic efforts by offering an option to wear jeans on two Fridays a month in exchange for a voluntary donation to the featured nonprofit of the month.  In 2018, an estimated $10,000 was donated by American National Jeans Days.