Columbia Bank Raises Over $200,000 To Benefit Homeless Shelters Across The Northwest

TACOMA, Wash., Jan. 6, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Columbia Bank announced today that $209,335.96 and 8,140 items were raised for 54 local homeless shelters across the Northwest during the second annual Warm Hearts Winter Drive. Through generous donations from customers, employees and the community, Columbia Bank surpassed its 2016 fundraising goal of $160,000 for Warm Hearts by 30.8 percent, and exceeded the funds raised in 2015 by 32.8 percent.

"We are so proud of our employees, customers and community, who rallied together again this year to raise awareness of this growing issue, and make a real difference," said Melanie Dressel, President & CEO of Columbia Bank. "The Warm Hearts Winter Drive was created to benefit the growing number of people who are impacted by homelessness and are struggling to receive essential services during our cold and rainy winter months."

According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the number of people experiencing homelessness in the Northwest has increased six percent since 2015. Columbia Bank launched the Warm Hearts Winter Drive in 2015 to support nonprofit organizations providing warmth to individuals, families and children in need. One hundred percent of the clothing and funds collected during the Warm Hearts Winter Drive are donated directly back to the shelters and relief organizations in the communities where the collections originated.

For a full list of benefitting organizations in each county, visit www.warmheartswinterdrive.com.

Philanthropy and community engagement lie at the heart of what it means to be a community bank, and the Warm Hearts Winter Drive illustrates Columbia Bank's commitment in support of that philosophy. After launching the Warm Hearts Winter Drive in 2015, Columbia Bank received various regional and national honors, including the American Bankers Association Foundation's George Bailey Distinguished Service Award and a Community Impact Award from Seattle Business Magazine.

Columbia Bank has been serving the Northwest since 1993. For branch locations and more information, visit www.columbiabank.com.

About Columbia Bank

Headquartered in Tacoma, Washington, Columbia Banking System, Inc. is the holding company of Columbia Bank, a Washington state-chartered full-service commercial bank with locations throughout Washington, Oregon and Idaho. For the tenth consecutive year, the bank was named in 2016 as one of Puget Sound Business Journal's "Washington's Best Workplaces." Columbia ranked in the top 20 on the 2016 Forbes list of best banks in the country for the fifth year in a row.

Columbia Bank operates more than 140 banking offices and branches throughout Washington, Oregon and Idaho. More information about Columbia can be found on its website at www.columbiabank.com.

Member FDIC Equal Housing Lender

Media Contact:
Olivia Gust
503-290-7304
[email protected]

SOURCE Columbia Bank