Home Federal Bank names Alfaro, Gray and Keeler 2016 Hometown Heroes

Bank donates a total of $7,500 to three area nonprofits

Home Federal Bank named Nell R. Alfaro, Susy Gray and Bill Keeler 2016 Hometown Heroes and presented $2,500 nonprofit donations in each of their names at a ceremony at the bank’s Fountain City office, 4900 N. Broadway, on Monday, April 18.

“The Hometown Heroes community service awards program continues to spotlight the tremendous pool of dedicated volunteers in our community,” Home Federal Bank Chairman and CEO Dale Keasling said. “People like Nell, Susy and Bill exemplify what it means to be a Hometown Hero.”

• Nell R. Alfaro has faithfully served as a volunteer at The Free Medical Clinic of America three days per week for the past 11 years. Patients, many of whom are former students from her 40-year career as a teacher at Fulton High School, appreciate her kind and gracious nature; Spanish-speaking patients greatly benefit from her ability to translate. She also is an active and engaged member at Smithwood Baptist Church.

Home Federal Bank presented a $2,500 donation to The Free Medical Clinic of America in honor of Alfaro. Founded in 1993 by Dr. Tom Keun Kim, the clinic serves the working poor who can’t afford medical insurance by providing free health care services.

• Retired educator Susy Gray now pours her expertise and passion into helping adults learn to read and/or earn high school equivalency diplomas through a class she and fellow church member Jeanette Jensen started at Fountain City United Methodist Church. To date, she and church volunteers have served more than 139 adult students, 25 of whom have earned high school equivalency diplomas.

Home Federal Bank presented a $2,500 donation to Friends of Literacy in Gray’s honor. The organization works in partnership with other providers to deliver free, high-quality literacy and adult education programs for adults in Knox County who are inadequately educated to meet the challenges of daily life.

• Following his retirement from Habitat for Humanity, Bill Keeler put his experience and knowledge to use serving others. As operations manager for Fountain City Ministry Center, a volunteer position he has held for the past 14 years, Keeler coordinates everything from securing food and clothing donations to organizing volunteers and helping churches and schools hold food drives. He also is active at Fountain City Presbyterian Church, where he helps coordinate housing for families transitioning from difficult situations.

Home Federal Bank presented a $2,500 donation to Fountain City Ministry Center in honor of Keeler. The organization is a cooperative effort of Fountain City area churches to provide emergency food, clothing and spiritual assistance to help Knox County residents in need return to a more self-sustaining lifestyle.

Now in its sixth year, 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.

During its first five years, the program honored 42 volunteers and donated a total of $125,000 to 36 benefiting organizations. This year, eight winners have been selected for their extraordinary volunteer efforts based on nominations from area nonprofits and the general public. Seven will have $2,500 donations made in their names to favorite nonprofits; the overall honoree will have $5,000 donated in his or her name.

“In addition to affording us the opportunity to recognize some commendable individuals, Hometown Heroes allows us to financially support many area nonprofits that do a lot of important work in our community,” Keasling said.

About Home Federal Bank of Tennessee

Founded in 1924, Home Federal Bank of Tennessee is a locally owned, full-service bank serving East Tennesseans through 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.