Bank employees paying it forward

Kate Westby

Published Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Jeff Stanislawski

Many company Christmas parties usually mean one thing: annual Christmas bonuses.

But for employees of the Fergus Falls branch of State Bank and Trust, the bonus paychecks weren’t the only surprises in Santa’s gift bag at the company’s annual Christmas party.

At the party last Saturday, State Bank and Trust’s management announced plans to grant each employee a bonus — totaling between $500-$1000 — to use this holiday season to help someone in need. The company is giving away a total package of $502,000 from the bank’s profits for employees to use toward charitable efforts in a blanket corporate decision to accept Oprah Winfrey’s “Pay It Forward” challenge.

Jeff Stanislawski, president of the Fergus Falls State Bank and Trust, said employees received the announcement with some shock, as an Oprah Winfrey look-alike made some employees question the legitimacy of the deal. But the company owners could not have been more serious.

“This is one of those experiences that brings tears to your eyes because it just does not happen every day yet it has such a powerful impact. It really makes you think about giving and reaching out in your community,” said Stanislawski, who has been with the Fergus Falls branch for seven months. “It is neat that employees are empowered to use funds from the company to support the local charities or individuals they choose to help rather than the company doing it at large in a less personal way.”

The recently labeled “Pay It Forward Movement” began in October 2006 after Winfrey challenged audience members to give back to those in need. Winfrey provided 300 studio audience participants with $1,000 in debit cards to use for the challenge.

Since 2006, individuals and businesses like State Bank and Trust have accepted the challenge of giving without receiving. According to Stanislawski, employees must spend their Christmas-giving bonus by June 2008, and he hopes the contributions stay local.

“There is a big enough need in our community, especially during the holiday season,” said Stanislawski. “The bottom line is a simple statement of State Bank and Trust’s committment to community. We believe in the phrase, ‘Happy Employees, Happy Customers,’ and this is one way we can live out that philosophy.”

As an individually owned bank, giving back to the community is not unfamiliar territory for State Bank and Trust. However, an effort like the holiday-giving bonus is the first in the bank’s history.

“The company contributes to various community and school organizations on a weekly basis, but we have never done anything like this before,” said Stanislawski. “It is more meaningful when employees can have ownership in their giving and contribute on both a combined and individual basis.”

In addition to the money, video cameras were given to each employee to document their charitable deeds. While some employees may choose to keep them after the challenge, Stanislawski said others are considering also donating the video cameras.

Despite the renowned success of Winfrey’s challenge, skepticism is still expressed towards the large sums of money and no contract of accountability and honor. Stanislawski believes, however, that the magnitude of the effect of providing the necessary financial means to make charitable giving a reality overshadows any doubts.

“When a company is willing to take funds and give back to those in need, how can that be a bad thing?” asked Stanislawski. “There is a powerful impact from people helping people, and it is my personal hope that each employee uses the opportunity to touch someone else’s life because that’s what the holiday season is really all about: reaching out to those who are less fortunate than yourself.”

The spirit of the season is oftentimes the sole reason people choose to give to the less fortunate during the holiday weeks, but Stanislawski believes State Bank and Trust’s decision comes from a difference source of motivation and hopes to see a chain reaction in Fergus Falls, triggering a new way of being charitable.

“If there is a chain reaction, what a great impact on the community! The possibilities would be unlimited, and our community would be an even better place to live,” said Stanislawski. “This whole experience has opened my eyes to know that the company takes giving back seriously because half a million dollars is obviously a large amount of dollars, each one with the potential to make a difference for individuals, communities and the region. This is the kind of giving that comes from the heart.”