Independent Banker - September 2023 - 71

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" I want to help instill
positive financial habits
and look forward to
working with Veritex
Community Bank and
Junior Achievement to
accomplish this feat. "
RYAN PRESSLY, HOUSTON ASTROS
Community Bank has been a partner
with the Houston Astros since 2019,
and now we get to work with one of
the best closers in the MLB, all while
contributing to financial literacy for
teens. This promotion makes me
proud to be in banking, [as] an Astros
fan and an advocate for financial
literacy. Everybody wins this season! "
Junior Achievement helps children of
every age apply what they're taught in
school to their futures.
A matched set
In a boost for the Southeast Texas
chapter's fundraising, Pressly himself
will match Veritex's donations dollar
for dollar, a commitment he is eager
to uphold this season.
" Managing your finances is so
important, " said Pressly in a press
release published by Veritex. " One
misstep could ruin your credit and take
years to recover. I turned to personal
research to help me along the way,
and I would love to the be person who
brings financial literacy to the top of
conversations with our youth. I want
to help instill positive financial habits
and look forward to working with
Veritex Community Bank and Junior
Achievement to accomplish this feat. "
" This just makes the season even
more exciting, " says Jon Heine, senior
executive vice president for Veritex
Community Bank and president of
the bank's Houston market. " Veritex
Community bank advocate
How did the community bank
convince Pressly-a 2019 and 2021
MLB All-Star-to become part of the
initiative? Well, it was actually Pressly
who had approached the bank.
" Ryan Pressly came to Veritex with
the idea after winning the World
Series in 2022, " according to Heine.
" Ryan was an admirer of Veritex's
work in the Houston community,
specifically our passion around youth
financial literacy, which the Pressly
family also shares. "
Junior Achievement of Southeast
Texas was the logical beneficiary of the
community bank's donations. " Veritex
has been a long-time supporter of
Junior Achievement and the work it
does in our local community, " says
Heine. Junior Achievement's BizTown
experience alone has affected nearly
500,000 young
people. BizTown
is an immersive
simulation that
allows students
to run businesses,
write checks,
practice civil
engagement and
more; each of
them leave with a
solid foundation
of business,
economics and
free enterprise
education.
This season,
Veritex is
independentbanker.org // 71
taking a tenacious approach to its
financial donation plan for Junior
Achievement. " Our intent is to drive
a season-long competition for our
colleagues and clients in Houston
who love watching the Houston
Astros, " says Heine. " Our ultimate
goal is to raise over $10,000 for
Junior Achievement. In fact, we think
we will exceed our goal, as the Pressly
family is matching our donation
dollar for dollar. "
Heine is optimistic about the
promotion's outlook: " Based on Ryan's
strikeout total last year and a few extra
for good measure, we estimate that we
will raise over $12,500 this year. "
This isn't a standalone act of
philanthropy. " Along with Junior
Achievement, we are involved with
Star of Hope and other organizations
that provide youth financial literacy
in the markets we serve in Houston,
Dallas and Fort Worth, " Heine says.
As far as what's in it for the bank,
the answer is simple. " Veritex
benefits by helping the youth in Texas
develop the foundational financial
literacy and mindset to prepare them
for the future, " Heine says. 
William Atkinson is a writer in Illinois.
For every strikeout Ryan Pressly
throws this season, Veritex
Community Bank will donate
$100 to Junior Achievement of
Southeast Texas.
http://www.independentbanker.org
Independent Banker - September 2023

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