At NexTier, we believe that building stronger communities is good business.

We're committed to taking our communities to the next level. And we have a long tradition of lending a helping hand when necessary.  NexTier associates give countless hours of their time as volunteers in the communities where they live and work.

Examples of NexTier's Recent Community Involvement

NexTier Bank’s 2008 Annual Campaign for the United Way of Butler County recently received the Campaign Award of Excellence and a Bronze Award for per capita gifts. NexTier’s 2008 campaign yielded total associate contributions of $20,197.10. NexTier Bank matched $20,000 of the funds for a total campaign of $40,197.10. NexTier is proud to support an organization that is such a dynamic asset to our communities.    

NexTier Bank and its associates were the lead sponsor of the 14th annual Bowl For Kids’ Sake that benefits Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Butler County, a program through the Butler County Family YMCA. NexTier associates formed six bowling teams for the April 13 event, with 36 associates individually raising almost $6,000. NexTier Bank then contributed an additional $5,000 for a total contribution of nearly $11,000.  

At its annual meeting on June 12, 2008, Junior Achievement of Western Pennsylvania presented NexTier Bank with its 2008 Silver Level Leadership Circle Award for NexTier’s contribution toward advancing Junior Achievement’s mission – providing economic education to children in our communities. 

 On Tuesday, May 20, the NexTier Junior Bank Board (JBB) distributed shoes they purchased from funds collected from the community to children at the Mt. Chestnut Head Start. JBB members represent Butler County high schools and 2008 members were: Audrey M Eberle and Brennan Zanella  (Butler Area); Christina Wick and Hannah Beck  (Karns City); Brian Callan and Kara Young (Seneca Valley); Kayla Rowland and Zane Barger (Slippery Rock); and Loren Vonrhein and Marie Noah (South Butler).     

Students and teachers participating in the Spring 2008 Stock Market Game attended a May 15 recognition luncheon that celebrated the successful program. The program is sponsored by the NexTier Bank Center for Economic Education at Butler County Community College. The #1 team in the state for the Spring 2008 Stock Market Game was Mr. Jamie Paul’s class from Kittanning Junior High School. Dan Crawford, NexTier’s Senior Vice President of Wealth Management, kicks off the teacher training each semester at the Center.

____________________________

Our Commitment to Community

NexTier proudly maintains key commitments to the following organizations:

• Allegheny Conference on Community Development
• American Cancer Society
• American Heart Association
• Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Butler County
• Butler Arts Council
• Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
• Butler County Community College Education Foundation
• Butler County Housing Authority Scholarship Fund
• Butler Hospital Foundation
• Concordia Lutheran Ministries
• Good Samaritan Hospice
• Junior Achievement
• LifeSteps
• March of Dimes
• NexTier’s Junior Bank Board annual event to benefit a Butler County nonprofit
• Pine Richland Youth Center
• School District scholarships
• South Butler County Meals on Wheels
• St. Barnabas Health System and Foundation
• United Way of Butler County
• Victim Outreach Intervention Center
• Visiting Nurses Association
• Western PA Conservancy
• The Woodlands Foundation

______________________________________________________

Our Commitment to Financial Education

NexTier’s financial education program underscores NexTier’s commitment to extending the reach of financial literacy for youth in the communities we serve. Components include financial education seminars and a “Money Talks” newsletter for parents. In addition, NexTier is an annual participant in National Teach Children to Save Day. NexTier also has a financial education program in place to teach children in grades K-12 about personal finance.

For the third year, the NexTier Center for Economic Education at Butler County Community College has promoted economic literacy in local school districts for students in grades K-12 in Butler and Armstrong counties through a partnership with EconomicsPennsylvania. During the 2007-2008 school year:

• Workshops took place including the Fall and Spring Stock Market Game workshops, Financial Fitness for Life, and Business Plan workshops.
• Dr. John Sumansky from Misericordia University hosted the Center's first Entrepreneurship Challenge, in which teachers brought students and walked through a business plan using hands-on activities. 
• The Center also started an on-line learning management system, in which teachers can take courses on-line and receive Act 48 credits and the curriculum that goes with the course.

NexTier supported 10 nonprofit organizations that serve children through the distribution of $200,000 in EITC funds to the following organizations:

• Economics PA / $60,000 / Financial literacy
• Junior Achievement / $20,000 / Career development
• National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship / $40,000
• Pittsburgh Musical Theatre / $5,000 / Student programs
• Smart Futures / $40,000 / Career guidance, new program funding for schools in NexTier branch markets
• Western PA Conservancy (Fallingwater) / $10,000 / Conservancy education and student tours
• Pittsburgh Public Theatre / $5,000 / tickets for students
• Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra / $5,000 / matinee performances for students
• Wesley Spectrum Services / $5,000 / Special needs children including program for children residing in Gibsonia
• Family Resources of PA / $10,000 / Preventing child abuse by strengthening families (operates a family retreat center in Cranberry Township)