MB&T awards grants to 11 organizations
After two-month delay, Montecito Bank & Trust celebrated its 45th anniversary with a Webex meeting that handed out $49,500 in grants to 11 organizations.
The grants represented $4,500 each to human services, animal rescue and educational organizations in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties.
Each grantee was introduced in a live presentation by a bank staff member, something that lit up the chat board that accompanied the meeting.
The webinar was co-hosted by MB&T Chair Janet Garufis and President George Leis, honoring the memory of the late Mike Towbes, the bank’s co-founder and former owner.
The goal is to “broaden our bank’s commitment to the communities we serve” and give each of its 231 employees a say in directing philanthropic efforts, a statement said.
The organizations that received grants included Adelante Charter School, Animal Shelter Assistance Program, Bishop Garcia Diego High School, Center for Urban Agriculture, Community Action Committee, CASA of Ventura County, Inspire Dance Santa Barbara, Moorpark College Foundation, Neal Taylor Nature Center, SCI Research Advancement and Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation.
MB&T was founded on March 17, 1975 and the bank shares its birthday with Pacific Coast Business Times, founded March 17, 2000.
