Securities America Ends 25th Year With a Bang

OMAHA, Neb., Jan. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Independent broker/dealer Securities America completed its 25th anniversary celebration by exceeding all goals for Investing in Our Communities: 25 Weeks of Caring, Giving and Sharing.

Since launching Investing in Our Communities in July as a way for employees to give back to their communities, Securities America has completed 13 projects benefitting 14 charitable organizations, resulting in more than 900 volunteer participants, including employees, family members and friends. The company collected more than 1,500 items from dog treats to letters to diapers, plus over 3,000 pounds of food.

"Omaha has been an incredible place for Securities America to grow and prosper over the past 25 years, and we wanted a way to express our thanks to this city and the other communities where our employees live and work," said Steve McWhorter, Securities America chairman and CEO. "Our employees' generosity, especially given the challenges of 2009 for our industry and our country, truly exemplifies the strong work ethic and sense of community that have made Securities America so great."

Securities America selected two projects for each month July through December: one project that employees could "do" by giving their time and a second that involved "donating" items or cash to a cause. Specific organizations were designated for the Omaha community, and employees in other locations were encouraged to select a similar organization in their community.

In November, for example, the Omaha office collected nonperishable food items for the Omaha Food Bank, while employees in Denver selected the Food Bank of the Rockies. Investing in Our Communities also encouraged Omaha employees to do or donate for nonprofits in the smaller communities in which they live, whether individually or through their church, club or other organization. Many employees used the projects as a learning opportunity with their children, bringing them along to pick up trash in a park, walk to raise awareness for breast cancer or Down Syndrome, or ring bells for the Salvation Army.

Other organizations that benefitted from the Investing in Our Communities campaign were the American Red Cross, AnySoldier.com, Project Harmony, Keep Omaha Beautiful World O! Water Clean Up Day, Heartland Family Service Senior Center, Susan Komen Race for the Cure, Buddy Walk, Open Door Mission, A Woman's Touch Pregnancy Crisis Center, and Together Inc. of Metropolitan Omaha.

"I believe one of the reasons for the outpouring of volunteerism this year is that most of us have been touched by someone we know losing a job or falling on hard times," said Doreen Griffith, senior vice president and chief information officer. "Given the times we live in, reaching out to help others is more important than ever."

Although Securities America's 25th anniversary year has ended, the legacy of Investing in Our Communities may live on.

"We started this project as a way to give back to the community," said Janine Wertheim, senior vice president and chief marketing officer. "Along the way we found giving together helped build even greater morale and camaraderie among our employees. We already have employees asking if we'll continue the project or do it again next year – and we're making plans to continue our spirit of generosity."

About Securities America

Headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, Securities America, Inc. has more than 1,900 financial professionals nationwide with more than $42 billion in client assets under their supervision. Securities America Advisors, Inc. is an SEC-Registered Investment Advisory firm with more than $13 billion in assets under management and administration that offers investment management, financial advice and financial planning through financial advisors. As your business growth expert, Securities America's mission is to foster the success of financial professionals so they can provide quality, objective counsel and services to their clients. Additional information is available at www.securitiesamerica.com.

SOURCE Securities America