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Left to Right: Loren Dixon, Pamela Anderson, Jim Reed |
Pamela Anderson, Vice President and Branch Manager for our Belltown Branch, was presented with the 2007 4th Quarter award for "Doing the Right Thing" as a result of her involvement with the Belltown Business Association, the Millionair’s Club Charity, the Forgotten Children’s Fund, and the Low Income Housing Institute.
In existence for over 27 years, the mission of the Belltown Business Association is to create a vibrant and safe Belltown community for businesses and residents, to promote Belltown and its businesses and to facilitate the exchange of ideas and communication. Involved with the Association since 2003, Pamela has held various board positions and has served as the Board President for the past 18 months.
Pamela has also been a long-time volunteer and board member for the Millionair’s Club Charity. Started in 1921, the Millionair’s Club has offered hope, hot meals and an honest day’s work to the homeless and unemployed in Seattle. The Club also offers a free vision clinic, and a Hygiene Center, providing workers access to shower and laundry facilities. Every month, they serve approximately 10,000 hot meals and over 650 men and women use the Hygiene Center. Pamela especially enjoys volunteering during meal service and talking with those who come in to get a hot meal.
Introduced to the organization in 2004, Pamela has been a volunteer and fundraiser for the Forgotten Children’s Fund ever since. The mission of the Forgotten Children’s Fund is to raise money to purchase gifts for needy children and their families during the Holiday season. Each child receives a new winter coat, a bicycle (if desired), a safety helmet and at least three toys. Food staples and warm blankets for the family are also incorporated into the package.
The other mission of the Forgotten Children’s Fund is The M-Bar-C Ranch on Whidbey Island. Owned and operated by the Fund, it provides a Ranch Experience for children who are physically, mentally or emotionally disadvantaged. The children learn to ride horses and participate in real ranch activities. Last season more than 2,000 children participated in the ranch program and horse-related physical therapy.
Lastly, Pamela is heavily involved in the Low Income Housing Institute. The goal of LIHI, as its known, is to develop, own and operate housing for the benefit of low-income families and individuals in Washington State, to encourage the active participation of residents in the management of their housing and advocate for just housing policies at the local and national level. Pamela has had the opportunity to help finance, through Banner Bank, one of the LIHI’s building purchases in Lynnwood, helped build a playground at that building, teach the FDIC’s Money$mart Program at a few of their facilities, and has trained individuals through the computer classes LIHI offers.
In recognition of Pamela’s community involvement, Banner Bank presented her with a plaque, a day off with pay and a $1,000 donation to the charity of her choice. Pamela chose to give her donation to the Forgotten Children’s Fund-Therapeutic Riding & Ranch.