Florida bankers are in the business of funding dreams, from helping Floridians purchase a car or home to starting a business or paying for college. Now, the Florida Bankers Association has launched a new contest aimed to grow awareness about the role bankers play in making dreams come true called, “Bank On My Dream.”
Through the contest, 10 Floridians will have a $5,000 dream come true, compliments of the Florida Bankers Association and its member banks. To qualify for consideration, the dream must be nominated by a Florida nonprofit organization and must be attainable with the $5,000 cash prize.
“Bankers partner with Floridians to make their dreams come true every day,” said Alex Sanchez, president and CEO of the Florida Bankers Association. “Sometimes, a small investment can have a big impact. This contest will demonstrate how $5,000 can make important dreams come true for 10 Floridians.”
Florida nonprofit organizations are invited to nominate Floridians they serve or who are known to them. The nonprofits must agree to administer the funds and use them to fulfill the dream, which must be attainable with a $5,000 prize. The dream may be anything from buying school supplies for foster children, to building a website for someone starting a new business, to buying a car so someone can have reliable transportation to get to work.
Nominations may take the form of a narrative or a video, which may be submitted via the BankOnMyDream.com website. After all nominations have been submitted, the public will have an opportunity to vote on their favorite nominees. Following the voting period, a panel of judges will select two winners a week for five weeks, to be announced in June and July.
Florida bankers play an ongoing role in helping Floridians make their dreams come true, including dreams of owning a home and starting or growing a business:
In 2012 alone, Florida financial institutions funded 461,771 mortgage loans totaling nearly $90 billion.
In 2013, Florida banks made 48,473 business loans ranging from thousands of dollars to $1 million: 33,261 were less than $100,000; 8,018 were between $100,000 to $250,000; 7,194 were $250,000 to $1 million.
Banks and their employees also are active members of their communities, sponsoring soccer and little league teams, supporting local Boys & Girls Clubs and Habitat for Humanity efforts, volunteering on non-profit boards and much more.