Bank of the West Opens Facebook Nominations for 2012 Philanthropy Awards

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 5, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Bank of the West today announced an open call for nominations on its Facebook page for its Innovation in Philanthropy Award. One winning laureate will receive $50,000 and two finalists will receive $10,000 in cash grants.  From September 4 – 17, nonprofits as well as members of the public are invited to nominate an emerging nonprofit with an innovative approach to improving the quality of life locally and prompting long-term sustainable change and addressing a critical societal issue.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120418/MM90603LOGO)

"Local nonprofits play an important role in promoting the health and well-being of our neighborhoods," said Dian Quinn, Community Affairs manager at Bank of the West.  "Bank of the West is pleased to recognize individuals and organizations who – with passion and optimism for their communities – are dedicated to addressing pressing needs in our communities. We look forward to the activity generated by the nomination and awards process. We know it will bring recognition to many deserving organizations throughout the 19-states we serve."

Of the nominations received this month, three will be selected as finalists for an open voting forum on the bank's Facebook page this October and also have a short video vignette produced on their behalf. The laureate and finalists will be honored at the Bank of the West Philanthropy Awards celebration in San Francisco this November.

Nomination Criteria for the Innovation in Philanthropy Award

• Nonprofit has been in existence for five years or less
• Nonprofit contributes to one of these four areas: education & job training; community & economic development; health & human care; civic & culture
• Mission and vision have the potential for long-term sustainable change and address critical societal issues
• Innovative program and/or approach
• Qualitative and quantitative data demonstrate how day-to-day operations tangibly improve the quality of life for its beneficiaries/community
• Nonprofit is positioned to leverage award and recognition to enhance future activities/contributions
• Nonprofit must be located in and serve at least one of the counties within Bank of the West's 19-state footprint.

Nonprofits who meet the criteria are encouraged to self-nominate through Bank of the West's Facebook page.  Nominations are due by September 17.  http://GoWe.st/Philanthropy2012

About the Bank of the West Philanthropy Awards
Bank of the West's Wealth Management Group and Community Affairs created the Philanthropy Awards in 2010 to recognize outstanding examples of organizations that are making a difference in their communities.  The Philanthropy Awards represents one component of the bank's dedication to utilizing its financial and human resources to improve its communities. The bank also targets loans, investments and contributions to directly support low- and moderate-income people and communities. In addition to the Innovation in Philanthropy Award nominations that are submitted by the public, two other award nomination categories – Community Impact and Team Member Commitment – are submitted by Bank of the West employees.

About Bank of the West
Founded in 1874, $62.7 billion-asset Bank of the West (www.bankofthewest.com), member FDIC and equal housing lender, offers a wide range of personal, commercial, wealth management and international banking services. The bank operates more than 700 retail and commercial banking locations in 19 Western and Midwestern states. Bank of the West is a subsidiary of BNP Paribas, which has a presence in 80 countries with nearly 200,000 employees.

SOURCE Bank of the West

WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM?

440k+
Newsrooms &
Influencers

9k+
Digital Media
Outlets

270k+
Journalists
Opted In

GET STARTED