April 20, 2015
April 20, 2015
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Scott Bird
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Bank donates $2,500 to The Arc Anderson County in Helms’ name
Home Federal Bank Executive Vice President Debra Smith (left) and President and CEO Keasling name Katie Helms (center) a 2015 Hometown Hero at a ceremony at the bank’s Farragut office April 20, 2015. Helms designated a $2,500 donation in her name to The Arc Anderson County, and Executive Director Dargie Arwood (right) accepted the funds on behalf of the organization. Austin Kitts (second from right) is captain of the East Tennessee Bucketeers, a bucket drum musical group led by Helms that performs at events around the region.
Home Federal Bank named Katie Helms a 2015 Hometown Hero and presented a $2,500 donation in her honor to The Arc Anderson County at a ceremony at the bank’s Farragut office, 11686 Parkside Drive, on Monday, April 20.
Home Federal Bank’s Hometown Heroes community service awards program spotlights community volunteers who make East Tennessee a more comfortable place for all of us. They mentor our kids; support our seniors; advocate for our most vulnerable; care for our animals; expand our region’s cultural opportunities; and serve in other ways. Eight 2015 honorees were selected for their extraordinary volunteer efforts based on nominations from area nonprofits and the general public.
The honorees, chosen based on their volunteer work in our community, selected a local nonprofit for a $2,500 donation in their names. From these finalists, an overall honoree will have an additional $2,500 donation to his or her chosen nonprofit.
“This is the fifth year of the Hometown Heroes program, and each year I gain a renewed appreciation for our community’s volunteers,” Home Federal Bank President and CEO Dale Keasling said. “People like Katie, whose volunteer efforts using the gift of music to reach individuals with intellectual/development disabilities, while also providing a way for them to serve our community, exemplify what it means to be a Hometown Hero.”
Helms took the grief of losing her oldest son, Gabriel, and used it to serve others. She taught herself how to play bagpipes as a way of grieving and now plays for funerals, particularly those involving the loss of a child. She also formed the East Tennessee Bucketeers, a bucket drumming group for people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities. The Bucketeers enjoy having a time to shine while sharing the gift of music at charity races, the Special Olympics, Tennessee State Veterans’ Home and other special events.
The East Tennessee Bucketeers played a brief concert following Helms’ award presentation.
Following the ceremony, the East Tennessee Bucketeers played a brief concert, including Knoxville favorite “Rocky Top.”
“Hometown Heroes affords us the opportunity to recognize some commendable individuals,” Keasling said. “At the same time, the program also allows us to financially support many area nonprofits that do a lot of important work in our community.”
The Arc Anderson County Executive Director Dargie Arwood accepted the donation. The organization promotes advocacy, empowerment and full participation for people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities.
About Home Federal Bank of Tennessee
Home Federal Bank of Tennessee is a locally owned, full-service bank serving East Tennesseans through 23 offices in Knox, Anderson, Blount and Sevier counties. Every quarter since 1991, the bank has earned a 5-Star Superior rating – the highest possible – by independent authority BauerFinancial. For more information, visit http://www.homefederalbanktn.com.
