STATE COLLEGE — Kish Bank hosted its sixth annual Kish Celebrates Community reception at Beaver Stadium recently, where nearly 300 attendees gathered in celebration of the communities of central Pennsylvania and the efforts of the dedicated nonprofits and volunteers of the region.
“We are here tonight to share our pride in this region, celebrate your commitment to our communities and recognize the work of so many outstanding organizations and individuals impacting the quality of life here in central PA,” said William P. Hayes, chairman and CEO of Kish Bank, as he addressed the crowd. “Like all of you, Kish is so proud to call this place home and to be part of the lives of the people who live here. It’s simple — there is no place else we’d rather be.”
Humanitarian of the Year Award
A highlight of the evening was the presentation of Kish’s Humanitarian of the Year Award to the nurses, health care professionals and staff of area hospitals Mount Nittany Medical Center, Geisinger Lewistown Hospital and Penn Highlands Huntingdon Hospital for their efforts and endurance during the COVID-19 pandemic. Hayes spoke of the heroism of all those who stepped up to serve their fellow community members in the face of unprecedented fear and uncertainty, and how they embodied humanitarianism.
“Despite the fear and uncertainty, there were those among us who answered the call to turn and fight this scourge,” said Hayes. “I am talking, of course, of the nurses and health care professionals who showed up in our hospitals every day against seemingly overwhelming numbers — who donned protective gear, who worked long days, nights and weeks, often beyond the limits of human endurance — to do all in their power to defeat this disease and support their fellow human beings. For COVID ignited a fire in them that took them beyond their professional calling — it was the fire of humanitarianism.”
The Humanitarian of the Year Award was sponsored by the Centre Daily Times, the Lewistown Sentinel and the Huntingdon Daily News.
Outstanding Nonprofit of the Year Award
Centre Volunteers in Medicine, a nonprofit dedicated to providing free quality health care to the uninsured in Centre County, was awarded with Kish’s Outstanding Nonprofit of the Year Award in recognition of the critical services the organization is providing to the community, as well as its herculean efforts during the COVID pandemic.
Greg Hayes, president and COO of Kish Bank, presented the award, saying, “In 2022, CVIM invested $2.8 million in program services. Their services keep the working class in our community healthy and employed. From dental procedures to medical treatment, including the identification of cancer and providing preventative care and education to decrease life-threatening conditions, these services are truly saving lives.”
The Outstanding Nonprofit of the Year Award was sponsored by Stocker Chevrolet and Subaru.
Other Highlights
Kish’s Community Impact Award, given annually to a Kish employee for their outstanding volunteering efforts, was awarded to Cheryl Shope, vice president and residential lender, of Huntingdon. Shope volunteers over 500 hours each year with nine different organizations, serves on five boards and many committees, and serves as treasurer for the Borough of Huntingdon.
Kish highlighted its partnership with Giv Local, a Certified Benefit Corporation that provides credit card merchant processing with a promise to donate 20% of the revenue back to a local nonprofit of each business’s choosing at no additional cost. Greg Hayes announced that in 2022, a total of $37,567 was donated to nonprofits in central Pennsylvania through Kish and Giv Local’s partnership, bringing total donations since its launch in 2020 to over $76,000, with a goal to double the annual donation in 2023.
The Bob Perks Cancer Assistance Fund, PA Pink Zone and Relay For Life of Mifflin/Juniata were honored for leading the fight against cancer in the central Pennsylvania region. Kish celebrated the results of its 2022 Kish for the Cure Campaign, through which employees raised over $74,000 for the three beneficiary organizations.
The evening also featured Patrick Kraft, vice president for intercollegiate athletics for Penn State University, as a special guest and keynote speaker. Kraft, whose core focus for the foundation and success of Penn State’s athletics program is based on developing, advocating and caring for the whole person, spoke powerfully about everyday heroes and community impact.
