FANTASTIC!!! I think that is wonderful. I work for a bank and that would be SO cool if they did that. I am going to bring it up at our next meeting. It is similar to what Oprah did on a show not too long ago. That is very touching.

How are they defining "someone in need". How is the bank going to follow up on the recipients to make sure someone did not just give it to their boyfriend? How is the bank going to know if the "person in need" didn't just blow it all on a new flat screen TV or a trip to Vegas? What about a do-gooder who thinks it would be a good idea to just walk up to a homeless person and hand the money to them (While capturing the good deed on video of course!) and they have no idea if the person has the mental capacities to use it wisely or spend will it on drugs? Won't there be a lot of friction when the other employees find out that their co-workers gave the money to a cause that they personally do not believe in like to one of those non-profit gay rights organization for example? Or to one of those hating Christian fundamentalist groups? Or to a non-profit groups that only serves the wealthy, like the local ballet.

I think there are better ways to get $500,000 to the community for a greater purpose. How about building a library wing with new computers? Or a Senior center that offers more than Bingo while sitting on rickety furniture? I think the money should have been spent on something that could be used by everybody rich and poor alike. A community center with a pool and Yoga classes in the gym, and art and music classes for children. That would bring people together from all walks of life and promote understanding and commeraderie between people of all classes. There are already programs in place for the truly needy (subidized housing, food stamps, clothing drives, subidized utilities) and social services to distribute the services to them.

I think there is a lot of things that could be done with a half a million dollars that would truly benefit the community than having their employees dole it out on a whim. Even if some of their employees pool the money and attempt to pull off a bigger project they most likely do not know how to go about it efficiently and the majoity of the money will go to lawyers, accountants and the 'project director'.

This whole thing sound like a promotional hype for the bank. What are they going to do with all the videos of their employees handing money out?

This state (ND) is a very generous state. Yes when people are given money it is difficult to determine who needs what.
Just an example: Coleharbor ND got hit with a tornado/straight line winds a couple of years ago. It destroyed a lot of homes, the school etc but when they asked FEMA for help-the answer came back --you don't need it, there was not enough damage done. But many many people all over the state and from MT came, cleaned up, help rebuilt, supplied food, clothing, the Air Base helped take the destruction away etc, and all done WITHOUT Gov help. Many many young people just showed up with donations and stayed to help. We are so proud of them.
I feel with the Banks contribution that almost all will help out where needed and the comunity will grow. We have some very talented and well organized people here.

Bud, the point that I got out of it is not that the person receiving the money shouldn't be someone that won't blow it all on a flatscreen or a trip to Las Vegas; but that the bank employees are to put some time and thought into it -- so that they learn how to think of someone else and their needs... to "pay it forward" so that, hopefully, mankind will eventually learn to be nicer to one another.

While doing a Google for 'Coleharbor' and 'tornado' to become better informed, I came across this 12/07 article about how the funds for the Colrharbor Tornado Relief were stolen.

Reading things like this just sicken me. I seems that nowdays none of the money donated to charity projects ever gets to the people who need it.

Here is a link that might be useful: Coleharbor Tornado Corruption

I have to agree with the sentiment, Bud ... we do hear a lot about major charities which are corrupt in one way or another.

Which is why I applaud going right to the PEOPLE themselves and helping them one-on-one. I think the bank has done a terrific thing, and I would be thrilled & proud to be one of their employees.

That is what I got from it also.

I know that when I was sick, I had some very nice people help me out. Even before I was sick, we would do things for our community and try to help people in need. Now, however, it doesn't feel like a need for us to do that, but more like an urgency for us to help others. It is just a part of who we are I guess you could say.

I think, and would hope, that most people will do the same. I can't imagine my job giving me money to our employees, or any boss giving money to employees to help people in need, and they pocket it or mis use it. However, I know that there are some people out there that do make wrong choices.

Each employee also received a digital video camera with which to record their project. In addition to the "Pay It Forward" gift, employees also receive year-end cash bonuses totaling 5 percent of the bank's earnings for themselves.

From article; "The bank's act of kindness has had unexpected consequences. Reif said that at his branch alone, about 50 people have called wanting to open an account because they were so taken by the gesture." Yeah, 'unexpected'. Riiiiiight. That's why they hired an Oprah look-a-like with a duplicate set, to host the announcement. The whole thing is a marketing ploy and I would love to revisit this thread July 1, 2008 to see what great deeds have been performed. Is the list going to be made public? The employees get free money to give to whomever they want, and the whole thing is a huge tax write-off for the bank garnering tons of publicity to attract investors to the bank. I'd be more impressed if each one of them donated a kidney or something. Or banded together to forgo their hefty end of the year bonus and donated that.

Call me a cynic and a realist.

Here is a link that might be useful: Oprah Look-a-Like and Bank Officer

Yeah, Bud, you are a cynic. I posted this (copy/paste of the entire article I read) originally just because I thought it was nice. You're reading way too much into it. If you don't want to do something kind for someone else; and if you don't like seeing that others may be doing something kind for others, then just keep your cynical thoughts to yourself, 'kay?

A $500,000 effort to benefit individuals in the community where they live is not a bad thing, no matter how you look at it. If that effort also benefits the business (since people tend to want to support businesses that support them) what's wrong with that?

methinks you're just stirring the pot to see how agitated we'll become. shame on you!

Posted by lindsey_ca: Just keep your cynical thoughts to yourself, 'kay?

Last time I checked this was a discussion board.

I haven't insulted anyone.

And I have never shushed anyone who's opinion is different than mine or told anyone to keep their thoughts to themselves.

There was a news report posted and I thought it was up for discussion.

I am not 'stirring the pot' just because my viewpoint is different. I am trying to add some insight. I don't go through life just drifting along like so much flotsam and jetsam never questioning media reports.

I guess I've just seen first hand so much corruption and mismanagement that these types of charity drives cover up that I am suspicious when I read news reports like this.

Lindsey - Thanks for this post.

I am sure the bank had some ulterior motives and felt they were in a win-win situation, however, the Pay it Forward theory is a great one and it will probably inspire so many more people to do something similar that it can only be good. Sometimes when I see a person who appears to be in need I leave an envelope under their windshield with some money it and just ask them to do something nice today. I love random acts of kindness and paying it forward.

Bud, yes, you certainly are entitled to your own point of view; and, yes, this is a discussion board. But I didn't post this to generate a debate on the merits of what the bank is doing. If that had been my intent, I would have posted this in the Hot Topics forum.

All I wanted to do was post a little nugget about something nice being done during the holiday season, that's all. I apologize if I offended you.