We believe in doing the right things the right way. We can and should play a role in contributing to the essential character of our community. It's not just about serving on boards; we believe in being active volunteers. Our employees provide their time and talent to various nonprofit organizations. We promote a "Giving with Heart" program that matches our employees' financial contributions and provides paid time-off when they volunteer.

The majority of our volunteering includes activities with numerous organizations in the Portland/Vancouver community. Many of our offices have "adopted" a local organization to volunteer with on a regular basis. Our Beaverton office first became involved with Sisters of the Road when a vending machine was purchased for the office. Since then, the office has donated the proceeds to Sisters. The employees have deepened their involvement and now, every third Wednesday, two employees volunteer with Sisters; rotating each shift so everyone has the opportunity to be involved.

Due to the success of this level of involvement, other Pacific Continental offices have partnered with organizations as well. Recently, employees in Tualatin began volunteering with Loaves & Fishes, serving lunch and socializing with senior citizens at a local community center. Our downtown Portland office volunteers with Store to Door Oregon, delivering groceries to homes of those who are homebound and disabled as well as providing a friendly face to those that have few visitors. Another Portland office volunteers with Schoolhouse Supplies, organizing school supplies and helping teachers needing school supplies for their classrooms.

Our bankers often take a unique and creative approach to helping organizations and encouraging everyone - employees and clients - to participate. Each summer, a group of employees collect donations and compete in tricycle races against each other to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Light the Night event in Portland. Earlier this year, employees from all of our Portland and Vancouver offices participated in the Multiple Sclerosis Society's MS Walk, an event chaired by one of our Vancouver bankers. We also held our annual "Have a Heart for the Hungry" food drive, collecting the equivalent of almost 24,000 pounds of food in food and cash donations for the Oregon Food Bank.

It is an honor and privilege to serve the communities where we work, live and raise our families. By reaching out helping hands, we strengthen all of our lives.