Florida Banking November 2022

FLORIDA BANKERS EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION

GIVING THANKS WHILE GIVING BACK

BY LETTY NEWTON, DIRECTOR OF FLORIDA BANKERS EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION (FBEF)

W e must find time to stop and thank the people who make a difference in our lives.” - John F. Kennedy Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays because it helps remind me to stop and acknowledge all of the good things in my life and the people who made those things possible. While Thanksgiving is only one day, gratitude is something that I think we should focus on year-round. "In ordinary life, we hardly realize that we receive a great deal more than we give, and that it is only with gratitude that life becomes rich." - Dietrich Bonhoeffer

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bankers a chance to give back. It has been really inspiring to me to see how many bankers want to help others. Our former recipients, who once needed help so that they could succeed, have gone on to give so much. They provide encouragement and support to their employees and coworkers, making sure they know that there are opportunities available to them like the FBEF. These bankers help interview students and provide references, allowing new applicants to request funding for the continuation of their education and the advancement of their careers. Many have served on the FBEF Board of Trustees,

Recently I was talking with a friend about their career and they mentioned numerous people who had helped them along the way, providing references or leads on job opportunities, and it reminded me that no one gets where they are in life without help. Whether you are just starting out after college or an unexpected change has made a new career path necessary, you have probably

becoming directly involved in the administration of the foundation. Our former recipients give their time, their money, and their support to other bankers because they know that giving back is the best way to give thanks. What a wonderful gift it is to succeed to a level where the gifts you have received can be shared with others. "If you are really thankful,

“FBEF GIVES TO BANKERS BUT IT ALSO GIVES BANKERS A CHANCE TO GIVE BACK.” - LETTY NEWTON

relied on a network of people to help you.Without that support it is likely you wouldn’t get very far because help from others is the foundation of success. "Gratitude is a currency that we can mint for ourselves, and spend without fear of bankruptcy." - Fred De Witt Van Amburgh I am grateful every day for the opportunity to work with the Florida Bankers Educational Foundation (FBEF) because I get to see how helping creates a ripple effect, as the help we give flows far beyond our recipients. FBEF gives to bankers but it also gives

what do you do? You share.” - W. Clement Stone By showing gratitude for the assistance given to them, and giving more than they have received, FBEF recipients have taken one gift and turned it into a multitude of blessings. They have generously shared their success with others, allowing the cycle of giving and gratitude to continue. This is a gift that has immeasurable benefits, to both the giver and the recipient. “We should certainly count our blessings, but we should also make our blessings count." - Neal A. Maxwell For 66 years the FBEF has been helping Florida

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