Community Relations

The economic challenges of 2008 made First Independent more committed than ever to helping keep our communities healthy and well positioned for the future.

In the past 5 years, First Independent and the Firstenburg Family have donated nearly $25 million to support community needs in SW Washington, including the Firstenburg Patient Tower at SW Washington Medical Center, the Firstenburg Community Center, Ridgefield Sports Complex, the Mary Firstenburg Center at Innovative Services NW, the Firstenburg Student Commons at WSU Vancouver, annual scholarships to incoming freshmen at Clark College, along with annual sponsorship of local events.

Corporate Sponsorships. As a community bank, First Independent has long believed our support should go beyond writing checks and buying tables at nonprofit events. We continue to cultivate multi-year, strategic partnerships with community organizations that provide important local services.

Current Corporate Partners
Free Clinic of Southwest Washington. 2008 was our first of a three-year commitment to help support the clinic’s health and dental care services for Clark County families in need. In addition to helping brainstorm and plan the clinic’s annual fundraiser, First Independent volunteers staffed the event and put their professional expertise to work handling credit card processing of auction item sales.

YWCA of Clark County. Having completed our three-year commitment to help increase visibility and community support for YWCA programs, in 2008 First Independent transitioned part of our sponsorship to the Classic Wines Auction, of which the YWCA is one of several beneficiary agencies in Oregon and Southwest Washington. This transition reflects the bank’s growing regional perspective while providing the benefits of sponsorship continuity for the YWCA.

Vancouver Rotary Foundation. 2008 marked the final year of the bank’s multi-year sponsorship of the Festival of the Trees and Downtown Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony. Having helped the Foundation to enhance and grow these events over the past three years, First Independent now passes along to the next corporate sponsor a well established community tradition.

Consideration for Funding. In alignment with our brand, First Independent develops multi-year partnerships with local organizations supporting—in order of priority--health and human services, education, economic development, and the arts. At this time, we do not fund sports organizations or sports-related programs or activities. It is important that we have an existing relationship with the nonprofit, in a volunteer leadership capacity or business relationship.

We have committed our charitable funds for 2009. Check back in the fall to learn about our plans for 2010.