Donor Spotlight: First Utah Bank

  Any first or third Thursday of the month one could visit Guadalupe School’s After School program and see a few adult volunteers dressed in business attire sitting with smiling Guadalupe children, as they read together or work on homework problems. The volunteers are employees from First Utah Bank, and they arrive twice a month to help our organization provide students with individualized tutoring and extra reading practice. This is incredibly valuable, especially for students whose parents may not speak or read English, and need extra support helping their children with homework and reading assignments in English. 
   Volunteering with the After School program is only one of many ways in which First Utah Bank supports Guadalupe School. The bank is a regular donor to Guadalupe’s programs, and sponsor at our fundraising events.  Last year, First Utah not only contributed as one of the sponsors of our UNITE Benefit Concert, but also funded a televised news spot to help promote the event and Guadalupe School’s services. This year, the bank bought a table at our spring fundraiser, the THRIVE Benefit Dinner, where Brad Baldwin, First Utah’s President, and his wife attended and lent their support. 

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  Guadalupe School is grateful for the generous support of First Utah, and is proud to bank with them, especially because they share our love of the immigrant community, and our commitment to helping those with international origins to be provided with opportunity. In 2005, First Utah Bank assessed the amazing diversity and international community of Salt Lake City, and decided they wanted to be more involved. This led them to open an international branch of the bank, where they have employed a diverse staff of immigrants who speak numerous languages, including Mandarin Chinese, Korean, Hindi, and Spanish. Jean John, First Utah Vice President, explained that the bank’s decision to hire international employees has allowed for unique trust from their customers, who appreciate that their bank “understands the culture of international customers, in addition to the language.” First Utah has also promoted several individuals from within the international branch over the years, adding to the overall diversity of perspective and leadership at the company. 
   Guadalupe School feels fortunate to share a strong partnership with a company that possesses a deep understanding of the wealth of knowledge and skills immigrants bring to any organization. We cherish the ongoing support of First Utah Bank, and look forward to many more years of working in unison to give back to the Salt Lake community. ​​