At most chamber luncheons, corporate sponsors fill goody bags with a wide range of promotional products in the hopes that attendees will use their pen, magnet or notebook to remember the brand.
However, last year, the Seminole County Chamber worked with VyStar on something very different - a program showing the credit union’s commitment to the community through a $2,500 donation to a non-profit chamber member.
At this week's Professional Women’s Luncheon, the program reached $10,000 total, with the financial institution giving four non-profit donations over the past year as part of their sponsorship of the event.
“Our company is driven by our purpose to Do Good, as shown by the $7.2 million given to more than 400 nonprofit organizations in Florida and Georgia, including this effort,” said Dawn Ofodile, VyStar Assistant Vice President Regional Community Engagement. “Our partnership with the Seminole County Chamber has been instrumental in amplifying our community impact through this unique program.”
The giveaway started in May 2024 when VyStar’s SVP/Florida Market President Lysa Barbano spoke at the Seminole County Chamber’s Professional Women’s Luncheon. As someone who experienced homelessness as a child and shared that experience with the group, she knew she could make an impact at the event.
VyStar elected to give $2,500 to Rescue Outreach Mission, Seminole County’s only homeless shelter for all, in a surprise presentation to the organization instead of providing its traditional promotional gift.
Since then, each speaker at the lunch has followed suit and chosen one of the chamber’s non-profit organizations to receive the donation. Other recipients include The Sharing Center and Christian Tech Center, which provides computer equipment to other non-profits.
“We are grateful for the many relationships that have been facilitated through our long-standing membership in the Seminole County Chamber,” says Andre Klass, who founded and runs Christian Tech Center. “This grant award came as a complete surprise and serves as a visible recognition of the positive impacts that our programs have been making in the community, and gifts like these provide a much-needed boost to sustain and grow our operations. My board members and I are very appreciative to VyStar and everyone involved in this donation.”
At a recent luncheon, VyStar presented another $2,500 check to IMPOWER, a local non-profit that works on mental health and substance issues with youth in Seminole County. The speaker at the event, Seminole State College’s Dr. Georgia L. Lorenz, chose the organization.
“We’re so proud of the impact that VyStar has been able to make in our community through this unique way of giving back to our non-profits,” says Rebekah Arthur, president & CEO, Seminole County Chamber. “It is truly unique in our industry, and it sets the bar very high for other companies looking to make a difference.”
