Oregon Bankers Association Presents the 2012 Community Applause Awards to Dutch Bros. Coffee and Starker Forests, Inc.

SALEM, Ore., Dec. 17, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Oregon Bankers Association (OBA), in partnership with the Independent Community Banks of Oregon (ICBO) and OregonBusiness magazine, recently announced that Dutch Bros. Coffee and Starker Forests, Inc. are the recipients of the 2012 Community Applause Awards.  Founded in 1996, the award competition is open for banks doing business in Oregon to nominate their business customers in recognition of their service in the community.  Since their inception, 33 Oregon businesses have been recognized, including this year's honorees. 

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During the Northwest Bank Executive Conference in December, OBA President and CEO Linda Navarro presented a commemorative plaque to representatives from both companies, who also each received $1,000 to be donated to a non-profit organization of their choice.  Dutch Bros. Coffee's donation went to Dane's Drive and Starker Forests selected the Philomath Youth Activities Club. The award ceremony also included a video presentation about each award recipient.  These videos can be viewed online at www.oregonbankers.com/community/applause-awards.

Nominated by Bill Humphreys, Jr., vice president of Citizens Bank in Corvallis, Starker Forests, Inc. of Corvallis won in the Business with less than 50 employees category. Starker Forests is a family owned business that recently celebrated its 75th anniversary.  Starker has grown to become one of Oregon's premier forest management and timber production companies. The company is widely respected as a socially responsible, environmentally sensitive and financially productive organization.

The impact of Starker Forests' donations to community groups and organizations can be felt throughout Corvallis and surrounding communities. In addition to significant financial support, the Starker family generously gives of their time, expertise, influence and other resources to ensure the success of organizations they are passionate about.

Starker Forests is especially passionate about education.  They have invested heavily and taken a lead in educating their community, especially youth, on respectful and sustainable forest management practices.

"Citizens Bank is honored to have Starker Forests as our customer," said Humphreys, Jr. "We are fortunate that Starker Forests and the Starker family are part of the Oregon community. This is an extraordinary family business, and their impact on the industry and community has been widespread and substantial."

Dutch Bros. Coffee of Grants Pass won in the Business with 50 or more employees category.  Dutch Bros. was nominated by Ken Wells, executive vice president at PremierWest Bank in Medford.  Dutch Bros. is a home grown Oregon business, founded by brothers Dane and Travis Boersma in 1992. The brothers started out with a simple push cart on the street, and 20 years later, the Dutch Bros. organization now has nearly 200 locations with multiple franchisees in seven western states.

Throughout Oregon, Dutch Bros. is considered by many as the iconic "good corporate citizen."  The company's generosity exceeds $1 million annually, and each Dutch Bros. location gives a minimum of one percent of their gross revenue back to their community.

The organizations Dutch Bros. supports range from the large, such as the Muscular Dystrophy Association and the American Cancer Society, to the small, such as local Boys & Girls Clubs, schools, food banks and grassroots organizations. In addition to financial contributions, Dutch Bros. employees donate a significant amount of volunteer time to a wide range of causes.  Whenever anyone in the community needs a hand, Dutch Bros. and their employees are invariably at the front of the line, doing whatever they can to help.

"It's hard to imagine an Oregon business more deserving of this award than Dutch Bros. Coffee," commented Wells. "Community support is not only part of Dutch Bros. mission; it's ingrained in their DNA."

About The Oregon Bankers Association

Established in 1905, the Oregon Bankers Association is Oregon's only full-service trade association representing state and national commercial banks, thrifts and savings banks chartered to do business in Oregon.  More information is available at www.oregonbankers.com.

SOURCE Oregon Bankers Association