Investment Professionals, Inc.'s Donation to CASA Is Largest Corporate Contribution in Charity's History

SAN ANTONIO, March 31 /PRNewswire/ -- At its 2010 National Sales Conference held in early February, leading bank broker-dealer Investment Professionals, Inc. (IPI) announced a $50,000 donation by IPI senior management and financial consultants to Court Appointed Special Advocates for children of San Antonio (CASA) – the largest single corporate contribution since CASA San Antonio was founded in 1984.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100331/DA79806)

Judges appoint child advocates to be independent voices in court for abused and neglected children.  The advocate does careful research on a child's background to help the court make a sound decision about whether it is in the child's best interests to live with the parent(s), remain in foster care or be freed for permanent adoption – remaining involved until the final resolution of the case.

According to Janet Ketcham, Executive Director of CASA San Antonio, "We are extremely gratified by IPI's expression of support for the important work CASA does on behalf of abused children.  We are hopeful that this contribution will encourage other businesses and individuals who can afford it to follow IPI's lead."  Ms. Ketcham indicated that the second largest single gift to CASA from a business was $30,000.

Scott A. Barnes, IPI President and founder, stated, "IPI has thrived in San Antonio since we opened our doors in 1992 and we want to give back to this community in every way we can.  I am troubled by the fact that a child in Texas is abused or neglected every seven minutes and I'm committed, along with my IPI colleagues, to supporting this and other worthy causes such as the San Antonio Food Bank."   

In the fourth quarter of 2009 IPI's 71 home office employees collected an average of 199 food items per employee for the San Antonio Food Bank (SAFB) – over 6,136 pounds of food and the most items ever per employee.  They also donated $1,000 in cash contributions.  

According to Debbee Pundt, IPI Senior Vice President of Quality Assurance and Human Resources, "For 18 years IPI financial consultants have been helping people achieve their life goals – often attaining what they could not attain on their own.  It's noble work equal to what the IPI team does to support important causes such as fighting hunger and breast cancer, Habitat for Humanity and other charitable organizations.  In more ways than one, we're in the business of helping people."

About CASA San Antonio

The mission of CASA San Antonio is to recruit, train, and supervise court-appointed advocates who provide constancy for abused and neglected children and youth while advocating for services and placement in safe and permanent homes.  In 2009 322 CASA volunteers worked on behalf of 1,325 abused and neglected children.

About the San Antonio Food Bank

The mission of the San Antonio Food Bank is to fight hunger in Southwest Texas through food distribution, programs, education, and advocacy.  SAFB serves the City of San Antonio and 16 surrounding counties.

About Investment Professionals, Inc.

Founded in 1992, IPI is a private, Texas-based investment and insurance brokerage and asset management firm with $4.2 billion under management and 45,000 clients nationwide.  IPI is a leading provider of on-site bank investment programs and currently partners with more than 125 financial institutions with assets in the range of $35 million to over $7 billion.  The firm's retail branches are in San Antonio and Houston, Texas, in The Woodlands and Clear Lake.

IPI's mission is to boost the bottom lines of financial institutions by helping their customers prepare for a more secure financial future.  The bank broker-dealer drives revenue by offering more ways to meet more customer needs and helping banks capture their share of the trillions of dollars that will transfer to baby boomer heirs over the next 20 years.

NO BANK GUARANTEE | NOT FDIC INSURED | MAY LOSE VALUE Securities and Advisory Services offered through Investment Professionals, Inc., a Registered Broker/Dealer and Registered Investment Advisor. IPI does not offer or provide legal or tax advice. Please consult your attorney and/or tax advisor for such services. Member FINRA and SIPC.

In seven ABC Studies of Bank Brokerage and Retail Investment Services over 13 years from 1997-2009, bank executives nationwide cast over 2,200 votes overwhelmingly in favor of IPI.  In the ABC study published in 2009 IPI was voted the Most Highly Rated Bank Brokerage Firm in the country for an unprecedented fourth time. IPI is one of the fastest-growing companies in San Antonio and has been named one of the Best Companies to Work for in Texas for three years in a row.

CONTACT:  John Evans, 1-210-582-2799

SOURCE Investment Professionals, Inc.