Ingram's December 2022

Corporate Champions Turns 15

The nation’s second-largest bank has 4,001 branches across the land, and last year, within the communities it serves, it directed roughly $250 million to promote civic and community life. It would be easy to take a cookie-cutter approach to that philanthropy, divide a mountain of cash into equal parts, and be done with it. That’s not the Bank of America way. Instead, a focused program of support for the arts and promotion of job creation are pillars of what the bank hopes to improve in the Kansas City market, which received a $4.1 million slice of the pie last year. “Across our markets, we recognize the power of the arts to help economies thrive, educate and enrich societies, and cre ate greater cultural understanding,” says market president Matt Linski. “Our focus here is particularly strong because the arts are vitally important to Kansas City. We’re an arts town and the arts are intrinsic to our quality of life. And they have substantial economic and employment impact in our community.” On top of that, he says, the mission is to create and grow jobs while gener ating economic pathways. “We lend to small businesses that help keep our economy running, and provide funding to help ensure basic needs are met as the basis for a healthy population. We do all of this at the local market level and across all of our markets within the enterprise. We have an active role as a key partner in this community, helping us deliver our global capabilities with a local, personal focus.” There is some process behind all of that. “Each year, we evaluate how long-standing partners and new organizations are delivering solutions that meet current needs in Kansas City to determine our funding,” he says. Volunteering and giving are central demonstrations of corporate values, including Ingram’s Corporate Champions turns 15 this year, and we can’t think of a better time to reflect on the commit ments made by companies to improve the overall quality of life in the Kansas City region. This year’s honorees—Bank of America, Basys Proces sing, Cherry Co., Country Club Bank and H&R Block— represent the range from family-owned to global in scope, a testament to the breadth of this region’s corporate com munity and KC’s philanthropic spirit. Looking further back, Ingram’s has now recognized nearly 90 individual organizations, a testament to the depth of that same spirit. From highly structured organizational giving, blend ing financial commitments, board service, volunteer programming and paid days off for service, to small-scale commitments of cash directed toward employees’ specific interests, Kansas City companies have shown the world that there’s more to business than the bottom line.

They are playing on a stage with plenty of room for more actors. Consider the wisdom of Basys Processing’s Brad Oddo, one of this year’s honorees: “I know so many people, including myself, who want to get more involved but just don’t know where to start. My advice?

Start anywhere, just so long as you start.” We can’t think of a better call to action.

BANK OF AMERICA

PITCHING IN: Bank of America employees donate millions of hours of volunteer time nationwide each year, including this group’s work helping out at Harvesters- The Community Food Network.

a commitment to driving progress on societal priorities. “One of our most valuable assets is the time and talent of our dedi cated employees,” Linski says. “We help them make an impact by encouraging volunteering—during work hours or after—on their own or with teammates. Matching gifts and volunteer grants enable our employees to direct funding to causes that are most important to them.” There’s more involved here than a job at a major bank. “We live here. We work here. We are local. Our roots trace back to 1886,” Linski says. “Our company’s focus is on responsible growth producing strong results, by ensuring the needs of our clients, employees and communities are met.”

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I n g r a m ’ s

Kansas City’s Business Media

December 2022