Choice Bank Grants Wishes To North Dakota Residents, Communities

Choice Bank is helping communities by granting wishes through their Wishing Well program, launched earlier this year. The program encouraged individuals to identify a need and make a wish for Choice Bank to fulfill that need.

Wishes were accepted at local Choice Bank locations and online through November 2, 2018. A committee of Choice employees have spent the last month and a half reviewing wishes and allocating resources to fulfill submitted wishes. And, just this week, Choice Bank granted its first two wishes, in Moorhead and LaMoure.

The Moorhead wish surprised Kendra Block, a single mother, and her 8 year old daughter, Macy, with Christmas gifts this holiday season. Kendra goes to school full-time working to become an LPN, and works part-time to support both her and Macy. "It was so fun to have the opportunity to bring joy to an unsuspecting family as we head into the holidays," says Choice employee Katie Thorlakson, "I’m so humbled that Choice gave us the opportunity to help others this season."

In LaMoure, Litchville-Marion School requested $1,200 to expand their Secret Santa program from the high school to include the elementary school this year. Two weeks ago, Choice employees Brent Thielges and Gaige Dunn decided to double the request and presented $2,400 in cash to the school. With each elementary school kids’ Christmas lists in hand, high school kids went shopping and wrapped gifts for the gift opening on Friday, December 21st. "The reactions were priceless! Kids were hugging their new toy tractors and lego sets, and the high school kids were grinning from ear to ear," says Brent Thielges. "We just wanted to go above and beyond for these kids because they’re worth it."

Additional wishes have been selected and will continue to be granted throughout 2019.

The idea for the Wishing Well was inspired by a team building event in which Choice employees were challenged to develop new ways the bank could build upon their core values, including how to better the places they live. "At the end of the day, our #PeopleFirst commitment means we are here for our customers, communities and fellow employees", says Gaige Dunn who helped spearhead the project.

Choice Financial is a PeopleFirst financial services organization that remains locally owned and built around long-term customer relationships, well-rounded products and services, and authentic community banking. For more on Choice Bank and The Wishing Well program, visit choicefinancialgroup.com/wishing-well. (or, for more on Choice Bank visit bankwithchoice.com)