Little Rock, Ark. – Simmons Bank (Simmons) presented a $30,000 donation to Junior Achievement USA (JA USA) at the Simmons River Market Building in Little Rock. The donation will fund work-readiness and financial and entrepreneurial education for children across Simmons Bank’s footprint and was made in honor of nearly 3,000 volunteer hours that associates donated to their local communities earlier this fall.
“We are proud to make this donation in honor of our associates who are dedicated to serving their communities,” said Jena Compton, Simmons Bank chief people and corporate strategy officer. “Our donation to support Junior Achievement, aligns with our better together mindset and provides access to financial education for students throughout our six-state footprint.”
“Thanks to philanthropic supporters like Simmons Bank, Junior Achievement is able to provide financial literacy and workplace readiness which helps drive economic success for the next generation,” said Jack E. Kosakowski, president and CEO of Junior Achievement USA. “We are grateful for Simmons Bank’s investment in our mission so that we may positively impact student’s financial futures.”
This September, associates across the bank’s footprint participated in their fourth annual “Simmons Service Month,” a companywide initiative to encourage volunteerism. When volunteering in person was not possible due to COVID-19 safety measures, Simmons Bank counted donated items as hours of service. To support associates’ efforts, Simmons Bank gave all associates paid time off in September to volunteer.
The bank’s $30,000 gift to JA USA will be targeted to impact children in the following Simmons Bank communities:
- Little Rock, Arkansas
- Nashville, Tennessee
- Dallas, Texas
- Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
- Kansas City, Missouri
- St. Louis, Missouri
- Wichita, Kansas
In early 2021, Simmons First Foundation donated $10,000 to support the Junior Achievement of Memphis and the Mid-South chapter’s virtual job fair program for high school students and an additional $2,500 was donated by Simmons Bank to the chapter’s general operations fund. Brandon Cooper, Simmons Bank Market President, serves as chairman of the board of directors for the Memphis and Mid-South chapter.
Simmons associates who donated 15 or more volunteer hours during Simmons Service Month also received $150 for charities of their choice. These top volunteers raised a combined $5,250 for charities across Simmons Bank’s footprint.
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About Simmons Bank
Simmons Bank is a wholly owned subsidiary of Simmons First National Corporation (NASDAQ: SFNC), a Mid-South based financial holding company. Simmons Bank operates over 200 branches in Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee, Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas. Founded in 1903, Simmons Bank offers comprehensive financial solutions delivered with a client-centric approach. Simmons Bank was named to Forbes magazine’s list of “World’s Best Banks” for the second consecutive year and ranked among the top 30 banks in Forbes’ list of “America’s Best Banks” for 2021. Additional information about Simmons Bank can be found on our website at simmonsbank.com, by following @Simmons_Bank on Twitter or by visiting our newsroom
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
ASHLEY LEOPOULOS
Simmons Bank
Public Relations Manager
501.413.7055 (mobile)
ashley.leopoulos@simmonsbank.com