WBHS Wins Community and Southern Bank East Region 'Earning for Learning' Campaign

Congratulations to Winder Barrow High School for winning the East Region “Earning for Learning” campaign sponsored by Community and Southern Bank. As the east region winner, the school was presented with a $5,000 check on Friday, May 25. In total over $30,000 was donated by the program to local schools.

Cindy Gallamore, bookkeeper at WBHS, wrote in an email to Patch, "This award was earned by so many. The staff of WBHS, students and their parents, as well as some of our community members all played a part in our big win. Since so much of our resources must go towards needs such as paper, ink and lab supplies, this will allow us to do more “fun” things for the students, as well as some academic incentives. For example, Dr. Darby likes to provide fresh baked cookies to each student at the end of each grading period. Our office staff divides up into teams and go into each and every classroom with a fresh cookie for all. It’s a special treat for the kids and it’s fun to do something nice for them. Thanks to CSB, We look forward to other sweet surprises for our kids."

This was the first year of the "Earning for Learning" program which launched in February 2012 and four schools were recently announced as regional winners, each receiving a check for $5,000. Overall, Community and Southern Bank donated to over 100 schools throughout the state. Twenty-five dollars was donated to a local school of choice each time a customer opened a qualified personal or business checking account or safety deposit box. The four regional schools receiving the most donations were then awarded the $5,000 prize.

“The communities we serve stepped up during the course of this program to help us give back to local schools,” says Ray Skinner, chief banking officer for CSB. “The future of ‘Earning for Learning’ is sustained by a shared dedication between CSB and our customers for improving education.”

Regional winners include the following schools:

• Blue Ridge Elementary in Evans
• Bowdon Elementary in Bowdon
• Union County Primary in Blairsville
• Winder-Barrow High School in Winder