Category: News

LAKELAND, FL – The Greater Polk County Chapter of The Association of Fundraising Professionals celebrates National Philanthropy Day by recognizing and honoring individuals and organizations who make their work in philanthropy enjoyable and allow organizations to strive toward their mission.

The AFP Greater Polk County Chapter sponsors an annual awards program to recognize the outstanding achievements of individual, foundation and corporate philanthropists, fundraising volunteers, and professional fundraising executives.

Candidates can be nominated for the following categories: Philanthropist of the Year, Philanthropic Corporation of the Year, Philanthropic Small Business of the Year, Spirit of Philanthropy, Volunteer of the Year in Philanthropy, and Youth in Philanthropy.

Citizens Bank & Trust won the Philanthropic Corporation of the Year Award. This award is given to those who demonstrate high ethical standards and show the community that the spirit of giving is alive and well, and stronger than ever.

The Polk Education Foundation nominated Citizens Bank & Trust for the award for all they do to assist educational programs and services in Polk County.

Citizens Bank & Trust President Greg Littleton, in regard to the nomination and award, “Citizens Bank & Trust is humbled to receive such a wonderful recognition. Philanthropy is very important to us and we firmly believe in giving back to the community that we serve.”

The presenting sponsor of the event was GiveWell Community Foundation, a foundation that currently holds more than 280 charitable funds established by individuals, families, organizations, and private foundations and serves a variety of charitable services in Polk, Hardee, and Highlands County, Florida.

For more information on Citizens Bank & Trust visit www.citizens-bank.com; or contact Donovan Tinsley at Tinsley Creative, email: donovan@tinsleycreative.com; phone: 863-583-0081.

The Champions Cup and Spirit of Bartow Awards are given by The Bartow Chamber of Commerce and BEDC to recognize and honor businesses/organizations that have championed exemplary best practices and have a positive influence on the economic well-being of the Bartow area business community.

Champions Cup categories include: Emerging Business of the Year, Community Service Business of the Year, Not-for-profit/Community Action Organization of the Year, Retail Business of the Year, and Service/Professional Business of the Year.

Citizens Bank & Trust won the 2017 Champions Cup as Community Service Business of the Year. Valerie Tillmon, Stephanie Colon, Jennie Walker, and Mary Gray Stephenson were in attendance to accept the award.

Citizens Bank & Trust was recognized as an Employer of Distinction at the CareerSource Polk Best Places to Work Annual Meeting. Congratulations to all the winners. Polk County has the Best Employers and we believe CB&T has the Best Employees!

Congratulations to Steve McCullough, Residential Mortgage Manager, on graduating from Leadership Winter Haven Class 37. Steve is shown here with Donna Sheehan, who served as chairman of this year’s class.

We are very proud of our Chief Information Officer, Chad Tagtow, for receiving the Polk Emerging Leader award last night. The award is presented by the three young professional organizations in Polk County, (Emerge, Endeavor and Engage) in recognition of service to the community. Chad is pictured here with three of his CB&T co-workers who received the award in previous years. Congratulations, Chad!