For the third consecutive year, CIBC FirstCaribbean staff joined together to raise funds for the Bahamas Heart Association (BHA) to mark BHA’s annual “Red Day.” The bank employees at branches across the country donned red shirts to raise funds and awareness of heart disease and related conditions, ranked one of the leading causes of death in the Bahamas.
Approximately 290 CIBC FirstCaribbean staff members participated in the cause by making a contribution and wearing red on the designated country-wide denim day to celebrate the occasion. All funds collected from the denim day were donated to the BHA at a short presentation at CIBC FirstCaribbean headquarters on Shirley Street.
Duquesa Dean, CIBC FirstCaribbean’s Customer Experience Manager and one of the central organisers of the “Red Day” fundraiser said the staff were extremely happy to give to such a worthy cause each year.
“When BHA approached us two years ago to raise funds and awareness on their “Red Day” we were eager to help,” said Ms. Dean. “Heart disease is one of the major causes of death in Bahamians so it was easy to get staff from Grand Bahama, the family islands and Nassau to all come on board to support such a worthy cause.”
Ms. Dean stated that CIBC FirstCaribbean has an ongoing relationship with the BHA and in the past staff have also participated in heart health seminars with the BHA and have invited the organisation to sell their iconic Red Dress lapel pins in bank branches.
Thelma Johnson, President of the Bahamas Heart Association, accepted the donation on the organisation’s behalf and thanked the bank and its staff for their efforts every year.
“There is such a need for these donations. Every penny that we receive goes towards helping our children. We have a long list of children waiting to have heart procedures here and in Florida.
Everyone knows us for the annual ball, but the proceeds from that go quite quickly. We are so grateful for the assistance; CIBC FirstCaribbean is always so supportive of us.”
About CIBC FirstCaribbean
CIBC FirstCaribbean is the largest, regionally-listed bank in the English and Dutch speaking Caribbean serving over 500,000 accounts in 17 markets, through 2,900 staff, across 100 branches and offices. The bank offers a full range of market-leading financial services in: Corporate and Investment Banking, Treasury Sales and Trading, Retail Banking, Wealth Management, Small Business and Credit Cards. CIBC FirstCaribbean is a member of the CIBC Group. CIBC (TSX, NYSE: CM) is a leading North American financial institution serving clients in Canada and around the world. Through three distinct business lines, Retail and Business Banking, Wealth Management and Wholesale Banking, CIBC provides a full range of products and services to almost 11 million individual, small business and commercial banking clients and meets the financial needs of corporate and institutional clients. CIBC is rated A+/Stable/A-1 by Standard & Poor's. For more information about CIBC FirstCaribbean, visit www.cibcfcib.com Media contacts: Marie Rodland-Allen, Managing Director, CIBC FirstCaribbean, Bahamas, email: marie.rodland-allen@cibcfcib.com.
Debra King, Director of Corporate Communications, CIBC FirstCaribbean, Barbados Head Office; telephone: 246 367 2248; fax: 246 421 7148 and email: debra.king@cibcfcib.com
The Bahamas Heart Association accepts a donation of funds raised entirely by CIBC FirstCaribbean Staff. (L-R): Nakera Symonette, CIBC FirstCaribbean Product & Sales Training Manager; Duquesa Dean, CIBC FirstCaribbean’s Customer Experience Manager: Thelma Johnson, President of The Bahamas Heart Association; Gezel Farrington, Director of Retail Banking Channels.
