SouthEast Bank donates $50,000 to Boys & Girls Clubs to boost youth development

Funds will benefit teen members of Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley, providing job training and scholarships

SouthEast Bank is supporting Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley (BGCTNV) with a donation to supply and staff youth workforce development initiatives. These programs introduce high school students to career pathways and foster college and career readiness. A portion of SouthEast Bank’s $50,000 donation also will provide scholarships for graduating participants.

SouthEast Bank representatives (Deborah Ann Lee, Bearden Branch Manager/Vice President, and Alice Eads, Vice President/Commercial Lending) present a check to Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley representative (Dr. Polly Johnson, Director of Education and Workforce Development Programs) to benefit Workforce Development Program initiatives and scholarships.

BGCTNV will place staff members in local public high schools to facilitate three workforce development programs: YouthForce, Pipeline and TRIO: Talent Search. Through YouthForce, students engage in paid workforce training, including 60 hours of soft skills development, 60 hours of job readiness experience and an internship based on their interest and capacity. Combined, students are better prepared for success applying to, interviewing for and working in professional environments.

Pipeline and TRIO guide students to graduation with a plan for postsecondary education. Pipeline specifically prepares students to enter the healthcare industry, while TRIO prepares first-generation college students to navigate testing, financial aid and college applications. By supporting these initiatives, and by providing $5,000 in scholarship funds for one graduating senior from each program, SouthEast Bank is partnering with BGCTNV to help relieve students of the financial barriers that may prevent them from matriculation and continuing their education.

“We’re incredibly grateful to SouthEast Bank for their generous support,” said Bart McFadden, president and CEO for Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley. “This partnership is essential in helping us equip our young people with the skills and opportunities they need to reach their full potential and make meaningful contributions to our community. We’re proud to partner with such a dedicated supporter of our mission to create brighter futures for the next generation.”

“SouthEast Bank cares about expanding access to education for all students in our community,” SouthEast Bank Community Reinvestment Officer Kirby Burton said. “We appreciate the work Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley does to identify and provide practical solutions to the gaps experienced by many high school students. We’re proud to play a small part in furthering this significant work.”

About SouthEast Bank

SouthEast Bank is a community bank headquartered in Farragut, Tennessee. With assets in excess of $2.6 billion, SouthEast Bank offers a full suite of loan and deposit products and services for families and businesses throughout Middle and East Tennessee, including its specialty consumer loan division, ELFI, which specializes in educational loan programs. SouthEast Bank is committed to the financial success of its customers, employees, and communities. Local decision-making and community involvement have been the driving successes of SouthEast Bank since its inception. Member FDIC.

For more information, visit southeastbank.com or call 1-844-732-2657.