Banks to help fund choir trip to New York
Published 12:01 am Wednesday, February 1, 2017
First National Bank and Trust of Atmore CEO Glen Davis, Escambia County High School Choir Director Conrad Weber and United Bank CEO Bob Jones gather for a picture. | Andrew Garner/Atmore Advance
When the 13 members of the Escambia County High School choir finish fundraising efforts for their trip to New York City in April, United Bank and First National Bank and Trust will pick up the rest of the tab.
During the 71st annual Atmore Area Chamber of Commerce meeting on Jan. 26, the CEOs of United Bank and First National Bank and Trust got together and decided to split the rest of the choir’s trip cost after fundraising efforts were exhausted.
After the chamber meeting was over, Bob Jones of United Bank and Glen Davis of FNBT told ECHS Choir Director Conrad Weber the good news.
“I was just in shock,” Weber said. “It was such a generous move. It was this huge weight was lifted off of our shoulders because in most cases, this type of trip will include passing a significant portion of the cost to the parents. We don’t have that option.
“To have them come together (Thursday night) and agree to bankroll the whole thing was pretty special,” he said.
FNBT bank officials said the final tally of what both banks will pay is going to be determined at the first of March.
For Weber, the night couldn’t have gotten better. A select few of his choir students performed for the packed audience, and he also received the chamber’s Citizen of the Year award.
“I didn’t have any clue about the award,” he said. “We were putting plans together to connect with business individuals and community individuals to see if anybody would be able to partner with us. We were going to go knock on some doors.”
Jones said he, along with Davis, recognized that the group of choir students were working hard in their fundraising efforts to get to NYC.
“It was kind of one of those spur of the moment deals,” Jones said. “Listening to the choir perform, we looked at each other knowing we got to make this happen. Glen had the same thoughts.
“It was not a planned thing,” he added. “It was more in the moment where we saw the opportunity to do something. That’s the advantage of having local businesses and banks rallying together to make good things happen in the community.”
