Heritage Oaks Bank donated $500 to both the Women’s Fund of Northern Santa Barbara County and the Afternoon Rotary Club of Santa Maria.

The Women's Fund honors the vital role that women play in our community and is dedicated to increasing the opportunities for women to participate as philanthropists.

Rotary is an organization of business, professional and community leaders united worldwide who provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill in the community.

“On behalf of the fund, please accept my sincere thanks for your gift,” says Judy Markline, Chair of Women’s Fund Oversight Committee. “Your contribution demonstrates your strong support for the fund and its mission to serve as a catalyst for change on behalf of the women, children and families of Northern Santa Barbara County,” adds Markline.

Women do so much to make communities possible. They embody the delicate balance of strength and compassion, fight for their beliefs, and collaborate with others to accomplish tasks. They invest their dollars, their time, and their best ideas in solutions to issues that a community cares about the most.

“Part of our bank’s core values is to be a good corporate and community citizen, with high integrity beliefs and actions,” says Mitch Massey, Senior Vice President Marketing, Heritage Oaks Bank. “Being able to support such a worthwhile cause as the Women’s Fund defines our values and community outreach,” adds Massey.

As its mission states, the Women’s Fund responds to the community’s most urgent needs by making substantial gifts in North County. The Women's Fund educates and inspires women to become leaders in philanthropy, emphasizing the power of collective giving and the rewarding personal experience that active philanthropy provides.

"The Afternoon Rotary Club of Santa Maria would like to thank Heritage Oaks Bank for your donation," says John Henning, Secretary, Rotary Club of Santa Maria. "Our club uses the funds we raise to support local organizations, including the Central Coast Literacy Council, the Saint Joseph High School Interact Club, the Boy Scouts, the Boys and Girls Club, the Santa Barbara County Food Bank, the Good Samaritan Homeless Shelter, and the Righetti High School Choir. We are very grateful for your support."

The main objective of Rotary is service - in the community, in the workplace, and throughout the world. Rotarians develop service projects that address many of today's most critical issues, such as children at risk, disabled persons, health care, international understanding and goodwill, literacy and numeracy, population issues, poverty and hunger, the environment, clean water, and Polio eradication.

“We want to say thank you to the Afternoon Rotary Club of Santa Maria for their involvement with our bank’s customer appreciation day called ‘Racing days,’ Massey said. “Our bank has partnered with the Rotary club for many events and we are always appreciative of their unbridled support for community events.”

They also support programs for youth, educational opportunities and international exchanges for students, teachers, and other professionals, and vocational and career development. The Rotary motto is Service Above Self.

For more information about the Afternoon Rotary Club of Santa Maria, please visit www.rotaryclubofsantamaria.org. For additional information about Women’s Fund of Northern Santa Barbara County, please visit their website at http://nsbwomensfund.com/