Commonwealth Bank’s Corporate Learning Centre Book Club will celebrate Thanksgiving by visiting several children’s homes, spreading cheer, donating books and extending the hand of friendship.
Through song, reading, games and book donations, the bank that bills itself as the leader in personal banking will demonstrate that it is also a model for caring for others in the community.
“Our members are dedicated to volunteering their time to these children for the entire holiday season and during other particularly poignant occasions during the year when it is important for the young people to know that they are remembered and important,” said Anthea Cox, Vice President of Human Resources and Training.
Over the Thanksgiving holiday, the Book Club will visit the Elizabeth Estates Children’s Home, Children’s Emergency Hostel and Bilney Lane Children’s Home.
“The Bank is commited to investing in communities and we realize that every community begins with the children,” said Cox. “The value added to the lives of these children via purposeful time spent with them is priceless. While we know we help promote literacy, the deeper meaning of the work we do with the book club is improving the quality of life for these children.”
The 32-member club of volunteers attend various homes on either a Saturday or Sunday where they read, play games, assist with homework and sing songs that uplift and encourage. The community effort will continue with a Christmas book drive in December, a Valentine’s Day event in February, a Mother’s Day visit in May, Father’s Day visit in June and back-to-school madness in August.
The club is divided into two groups, the Book Markers and the Book Worms. Groups meet on alternate Fridays for a 1/2 hour to read and discuss leadership.
“We are very proud of the volunteers who make up the Commonwealth Bank Corporate Learning Centre Book Club,” said Bank President Ian Jennings. “The volunteers bring books, but they leave much more, they leave behind them the knowledge that people care.”
The Book Club is the volunteer arm of a broader literacy and educational assistance program. Since 2007, Commonwealth Bank has assisted with annual contributions in educational equipment for classrooms and school supplies for students, providing thousands of backpacks filled with notepads, paper, pencils and more. This year’s donation of $250,000 brought to some $1.5 million the bank has contributed, making it the nation’s single largest private donor to the education system. The bank is also a major sponsor of The College of The Bahamas Emerging Leaders Award Programme. Its pledge of $500,000 helps to fund scholarships for up to 40 students.
Diane Phillips and Associates
Caption: ComBank Book Club]Commonwealth Bank Volunteers Time at Children’s Homes. Members of Commonwealth Bank’s Corporate Learning Centre Book Club volunteer their time and visit various children’s homes where they read, play games, assist with homework and sing songs that uplift and encourage. Pictured l-r: Alicia Butler, Tanya Carey, Tina Nixon, Katherine Hamilton, Tiffany Baker and Anthea Cox, Vice President HR and Training.
