@pointsoflight #bestbank @ababankers @ICBA Team Pioneer Member Maria Ornelas, from our Las Cruces, University Branch, has such a giving heart and is an amazing Community Banker! Maria recently started the Guital’s Educational Foundation where she strives to help kids in need get the educational opportunities they deserve. With the help of Pioneer Bank, and our President/CEO, Christopher Palmer, she was able to purchase much needed school supplies for the school children at her childhood school in Mexico. Maria and her fiance, Kevin Korzan flew to La Palmita Jalisco and the Francisco Villa school and personally delivered the supplies to the children. The Foundation had help from doctors and therapists to help determine those students with the greatest needs. It also helped connect teachers with resources they were unaware of.
“All in all this project took about 200+ hours of work and prep in a 9 month period,” stated Maria. “It was a joy seeing the face of these kids, an event was planned out where we handed out back packs, supplies, 8 tablets, a printer, and miscellaneous toys and gifts. We also provided food, jolly jumps, and a cart full of Mexican paletas (about 100). The children also organized three special dances to perform at the event. If it wasn’t for Pioneer Bank I would have never met Christopher. Renaye (Medina, AVP/Branch Manager) made it possible for me to go – approving my time off. It was a wonderful event, I was so happy the way it turned out.”
