At Grow, our mission is to serve people, not profit. The idea of growing the greater good is central to our internal culture, and our team members truly live it out. Part of our work includes an ongoing commitment to charitable efforts and community initiatives across a variety of causes. Team members receive multiple paid volunteer days per year to serve in any capacity for a cause they’re passionate about. We’re excited to share more about what we’ve been up to in the second half of 2024.

Community Volunteering & Fundraising

St. Jude Walk/Run
More than 130 Grow team members participated in the St. Jude Walk/Run in Tampa! We had an inspiring day supporting an incredible cause. Thank you to everyone who walked, ran or rallied with us in support of ending childhood cancer. Learn more.

Lowcountry Food Bank 
​Our Wescott store team volunteered with the Lowcountry Food Bank to sort and pack boxes to supplement the pantries of our elderly community. We had a great time working with other local businesses to help this worthy cause! Founded in 1983, the Lowcountry Food Bank’s mission is to unite the community in pursuit of equitable, dignified and consistent access to food throughout the 10 coastal counties of South Carolina.

Walk to End Alzheimer’s^®
Thanks to efforts by our team member Al Salas, several team members came together over the summer for an inspiring community event dedicated to ending Alzheimer’s disease. Learn more.

Youth & Education

3DE by Junior Achievement Case Study
We were proud to sponsor a credit union-focused case study with 3DE by Junior Achievement, an innovative model for public education focused on reengineering high school in order to provide economic opportunities for all students. Paola Woodruff, VP of Servicing Operations, led our involvement. She shared, “The youth of our community are the future of our community. I am a strong advocate for the Junior Achievement 3DE program because it empowers high school students in our Tampa Bay Area with critical financial literacy skills, laying the groundwork for their success.”

Back-to-School Supply Drive
With the help of the Grow Financial Foundation, our stores joined in the effort to collect back-to-school supplies to support various local organizations around Tampa Bay, Columbia and Charleston.

Summer Financial Wellness Series
Throughout June, July and August, Grow hosted a free financial wellness series for residents in our West River community. Topics included financial basics, such as budgeting, managing debt and building credit. Read the full story here.

Celebrate Birthdays & Family Support Services
Supporting foster children is near and dear to many members of our team. We have team members in volunteer roles with Celebrate Birthdays, a local organization that ensures all kids feel special on their birthdays. Additionally, team members volunteer with Family Support Services, the leading child welfare agency in Pasco and Pinellas counties. The agency works to improve the circumstances and outcomes for families, provide safe homes for abused and/or neglected children and teens through foster care, and find forever families for children through adoption. Bernadette Hogsett, Market Manager, shared:

“I’m passionate about volunteering with Family Support Services of Suncoast because I enjoy knowing that children in our community get taken care of a little better through their programs to prevent child abuse and neglect and promote healthy family environments.”

Supporting Veterans

As an organization founded on MacDill Air Force Base, the military community is particularly close to our hearts. We had the opportunity to sponsor, participate in, and volunteer with a few different events throughout the month of November, including:

Habitat for Humanity Veterans Week Build
In honor of Veterans Day, we teamed up with Friends of U.S. Military Families and Habitat for Humanity, as well as military and veteran families and volunteers, for the Veterans Build Week of Service to provide home maintenance for local veterans. Learn more.

In additional to the Veterans Day Week of Service, Grow and our team members participated in a variety of other impactful FUSMF initiatives throughout the year, including supporting the Sgt. Anthony Muhlstadt Foundation.

Clearwater Patriot Fest
Hosted by the Florida Veterans Coalition, this event honored those who have served in our nation’s Armed Forces with live entertainment, family-friendly activities and meaningful speeches. Learn more.

Community Events

Halloween Events
We loved sponsoring Pumpkin Painting at International Plaza, the eighth Annual River Walk Trick or Treat, and Halloween on Central! From costumes to candy, and of course, our Grow monsters, these events came alive with Halloween spirit. Thank you to everyone who stopped by for treats, photos with our friendly Grow monsters and all the Halloween fun.

Police Athletic League Golf Tournament 
We had the pleasure of participating in the annual golf tournament benefiting the Police Athletic League of St. Petersburg. Their mission is to inspire hope and transform the lives of at-risk youth by providing opportunities for education, health and wellness, and leadership development through meaningful partnerships in the community.

Your Donations Through Round Up, Give Back
Lastly, we can’t speak to growing the greater good in 2024 without mentioning the contributions of our members through the Round Up, Give Back program. Thanks to your generous participation, through September we’ve been able to donate $11,087 to a variety of local charities. We appreciate your support! Learn more or enroll in Round Up, Give Back.

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