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 The State Bank & Trust announced at its Christmas party in December that each full-time employee would get $1,000 and each part-time employee would get $500 as part of the "Pay it Forward" initiative.
So far, employees have given away more than $350,000.
The bank had set a deadline of June 30 for workers to find a use for their share of the $502,000. Michael Solberg, the bank's chief operating officer, said Friday that the deadline would be extended until all the money is spent.
"Some of the bigger ideas have taken more time," Solberg said. "We'll make sure we give all the money away."
Employees have given to a variety of causes, from church youth groups to a neighbor with cancer and a stack of medical bills. They have also given money to a Minnesota man who had two kidney transplants and to the family of a slain Jamaican man.
On Friday, bank workers donated cash, appliances, a wheelchair-accessible van and three years of car insurance to a family whose children were injured in a car accident nine years ago.
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 "There are so many diverse needs in our community, and the diversity of employees' projects reflects that," Solberg said.
Employees can't use the money for themselves, their families or families of other bank workers. An employee board must approve each project.
[Associated
Press; By JAMES MacPHERSON]
Copyright 2008 The Associated
Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
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