Peoples Bank is proud to announce Mount Vernon-based Children of the Valley as the recipient of the 2023 ‘Peoples Choice’ Impact Grant. The selection of Children of the Valley for this grant was determined by a public vote on the Peoples Bank website.
 
Children of the Valley provides a safe and supportive after-school environment for local area youth through academic assistance, social-emotional learning, and enrichment activities. Children of the Valley’s students are predominantly from low-income and Latinx families and are some of the most under-resourced children in the Skagit Valley. The $10,000 award will be used toward the purchase of a ten-passenger van to safely transport elementary-age school children home from afterschool programming. The van will also be used for field trips and enrichment activities.
 
"We are excited and overwhelmed by the love and support shown by our community to be selected for this grant,” said Flora Lucatero, Executive Director of Children of the Valley. “Transportation is a barrier for many families we serve, and with four sites now open across the Skagit Valley, this generous grant from Peoples Bank addresses a critical need for our program.”
 
About the Peoples Bank Impact Grant
The Peoples Impact Grant program was launched in 2017 to help fund a specific project, use, or identified purpose that will have a long-lasting, positive impact on the community. Last month, the Bellingham Central Lions Club was named the 2023 grant recipient. The $25,000 Peoples Bank grant will be used by the organization’s Haskell Lions Eye Clinic for the purchase of an optical coherence tomography (OCT) machine. In operation for 12 years, the all-volunteer clinic provides free eye examinations and glasses for qualified low-income and homeless people in the community. In 2022, the Impact Grant program was expanded to include a $10,000 Peoples Choice grant. Last year’s recipient of the Peoples Choice award was Mount Vernon-based Camp Korey.
 
Operating since 1921, Peoples Bank is known for its dedication to service – supporting local customers, local businesses, and the economic growth of the regions surrounded by each branch. Each year, Peoples Bank donates hundreds of thousands of dollars to local and regional nonprofit organizations providing valuable services in the arts, child and family services, education, health and social services, and civics. For more information about Peoples Bank community giving, please visit www.peoplesbank-wa.com/giving.
 
About Peoples Bank
Peoples Bank is a locally owned and operated, independent full-service community bank with $2.6 billion in assets. Headquartered in Bellingham, Washington, Peoples Bank has served the community for over 100 years and operates in 22 locations throughout Washington. Reflecting its strong financial management practices, dedicated employees, and long-standing customer relationships, Peoples Bank was awarded a superior five-star rating from Bauer Financial, a leading independent bank rating firm. Learn more about Peoples Bank at www.peoplesbank-wa.com. Member FDIC.