Community Happenings

April was Financial Literacy Month! Throughout the month, United employees led financial literacy workshops, read to classes about saving money, created educational displays in their branches, and more!

The United team in Clayton, NC is proud to sponsor G-Force Robotics, Johnston County's first and North Carolina's largest all-girl robotics team.

Since forming in April, they have been hard at work prepping for upcoming robotics competitions. In addition to their STEM-focused programs and many hours spent in the shop, the team has also volunteered over 500 community service hours within Clayton and surrounding communities. The team is comprised of 12 young women in grades 9 through 12 from communities and schools across a tri-county area. The team seeks to encourage girls’ interest in STEM fields while also developing skills in business, marketing, and leadership.

Recently, the team presented their competition robot at the Clayton, NC Town Council Meeting and spoke to council members about their accomplishments and upcoming community service initiatives. We're so proud of all they've accomplished so far, and we can't wait to see what's to come!

We've officially kicked off our partnership with Habitat for Humanity! Our first official build took place in Wake County, NC, on July 1. This new partnership will both support the cost of local builds and provide local United team members with the opportunity to volunteer on a build in their area. We believe it will impact our communities and help all of us connect to each other and our mission as bankers. 

Supporting housing strategies and the path to affordable homeownership is a core pillar of the United Community Bank Foundation. This means investing in our communities and helping our customers reach their housing goals from a lending perspective. Partnering with Habitat for Humanity lets us go one step further and directly contribute to families' homeownership dreams in our communities.

"Bright eyes and tons of questions!” That’s what our United Community Bank team was met with when they visited with the local Junior Achievement group in Orlando, FL recently. The bankers had the opportunity to teach various grade levels at Pinar Elementary about money, savings, taxes, business, and more! The kids were enthusiastic and eager to learn, and even sent our team thank you cards asking them to please come back again! It would be our pleasure to do just that.

We’re still in the middle of summer, but Seaside bankers down in Orlando, Florida are already thinking about back to school! This group, partnering with the Together for Good Council, donated to the “A Gift for Teaching” organization.
 
The donation, along with their volunteer efforts, allowed Seaside to support “The Big Backpack Build” event. They filled 15,000 backpacks with school supplies that will be given to underprivileged students for the upcoming school year. The event took place at the Valencia West Campus in Orlando. While this group has donated to the organization before, it was the first time they got in on the hands-on action of stuffing the bookbags.

The bankers say it was great opportunity to give back to our community – and – “We had so much fun doing it!”  Thanks to these teammates for their commitment to our communities!

The Atlanta News First Surprise Squad thanks a Woodstock police officer with a gift for his help when a woman’s car stopped in the middle of traffic in metro-Atlanta.

FOX Carolina's Surprise Squad gives back to a fifth grader who started a food pantry during the pandemic. Eleven-year-old Corbin started his pantry to support his local community and those who were struggling to buy food. This is his third year doing so and he collected over 500 canned goods. He also has organized a toy drive for Christmas to support local children in need.

7-year-old John Panter has a spirit of caring beyond his years. When the Cartersville, GA boy saw what was happening in Ukraine on the news, he wanted to do something to help. The first thing he did was empty his own piggy bank and pull out everything he had: $4.28. Then, with the help of family and friends, he began making crafts to sell. He set out with an initial goal to raise $250.

Then, John's story started to spread. With the help of our CBS 46 Surprise Squad team, United donated $1,500 to John's mission, and when cameras showed up to surprise John, his family and friends were there cheering him on.

His family says John is now nearing $20,000 in funds raised to help the children and families in Ukraine. The money will be sent to the aid organization 'This Child Here,' and the money will help make a difference for families who will be able to purchase food, formula, diapers, hygiene products, and more.