GULFPORT, Miss., April 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Hancock Whitney—one of America's strongest, safest banks—has committed $2.5 million for investments in communities to help people in some of the Gulf South's most vulnerable neighborhoods during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The investments provide much-needed financial support for the following priorities in local communities across Hancock Whitney's banking footprint, including approximately
(GULFPORT, Miss.) In partnership with Salute Italian & Seafood Restaurant in Gulfport, Mississippi, Hancock Whitney helped feed #HealthcareHeroes at Memorial Hospital at Gulfport.
(NEW ORLEANS) Hancock Whitney partnered with the Ralph Brennan Restaurant Group to deliver meals to support and show appreciation to #HealthcareHeroes at University Medical Center in New Orleans.
(NEW ORLEANS) Hancock Whitney worked with celebrity New Orleans chef John Besh and BRG Hospitality to deliver meals to #HealthcareHeroes at Ochsner Medical Center on Jefferson Highway in New Orleans.
(BATON ROUGE, La.) Hancock Whitney was proud to support BRQ Restaurant in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, while serving #HealthcareHeroes on the COVID-19 front lines at Baton Rouge General's Bluebonnet Campus.
(HATTIESBURG, Miss.) Hancock Whitney provided meals to #HealthcareHeroes across the bank’s footprint, including Hattiesburg, Mississippi, where the bank partnered with Strick's BBQ Restaurant & Catering to feed Forrest General Hospital ER teams.
(NEW ORLEANS) Hancock Whitney works year-round with Emeril Lagasse and teams at each of his restaurants and partnered with the celebrity chef to bring shrimp and grits to #HealthcareHeroes at Ochsner Baptist in New Orleans.
$1 million for stocking local food pantries;
$600,000 for supplies to help protect residents in some of the hardest hit and low-to-moderate-income communities and first responders;
$800,000 for housing relief, including legal services to help disadvantaged individuals fight illegal evictions; and
$100,000 for the Hancock Whitney Associate Assistance Fund, in addition to $400,000 bank board members, executives, and associates have already contributed to help Hancock Whitney associates affected by the pandemic.
The bank has already partnered for several weeks with local restaurants across its footprint to provide more than 8,000 meals to healthcare professionals caring for COVID-19 patients. That initiative has helped businesses stay open and pay hundreds of employees while emphasizing Hancock Whitney's gratitude to #HealthcareHeroes.
Hancock Whitney leaders said the bank's $2.5 million investment in communities and other relief efforts come at a critical time as the novel coronavirus continues to impact lives and livelihoods across the cities and towns the bank serves as well as the global community.
"We are, all of us, in this fight together to protect our loved ones, clients, colleagues, and communities from this virus," said Hancock Whitney President and CEO John M. Hairston. "This pandemic is creating real, significant challenges for so many people in terms of adequate food, income, basic safeguards against the virus, and housing to shelter in place. Hancock Whitney has very deep roots in the communities we serve. It's simply the right thing to do what we can so that together we help keep people safe and our communities strong."
A Hancock Whitney thank-you video pays tribute to the medical personnel, first responders, and other essential workers as well as everyday citizens ensuring people and communities have the care, resources, and services they need to stay healthy and safe during the pandemic: https://youtu.be/d7Jg5VzCZ6g
"Countless individuals and organizations are doing extraordinary things in the battle to beat COVID-19. We thank them. We salute them. We are also very grateful to our Hancock Whitney teams who have remained steadfastly committed to clients throughout this situation," added Hairston. "Together, we can support each other, invest in our communities, reopen our hometowns, rebuild our businesses, and create a great future."
A special page at www.hancockwhitney.com/covid19 offers timely updates on Hancock Whitney's locations and operations, resources, fraud prevention tips, and ongoing direct assistance available for people and businesses suffering financial impacts from the pandemic, including fee waivers, loan payment deferrals, and SBA loans.
About Hancock Whitney
Since the late 1800s, Hancock Whitney has embodied core values of Honor & Integrity, Strength & Stability, Commitment to Service, Teamwork, and Personal Responsibility. Part of Hancock Whitney Corporation's Gulf South financial services family, bank offices and financial centers in Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, and Texas offer comprehensive financial products and services, including traditional and online banking; commercial and small business banking; private banking; trust and investment services; healthcare banking; certain insurance services; and mortgage services. The company also operates a loan production office in Nashville, Tennessee, as well as trust and asset management offices in New Jersey and New York. BauerFinancial, Inc., the nation's leading independent bank rating and analysis firm, consistently recommends Hancock Whitney as one of America's most financially sound banks. More information is available at www.hancockwhitney.com.
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