Penny was able to visit with Mrs. Forbus's Kindergarten class as well as Mrs. Ellis's Fifth grade class.  Centennial donated some First Account saving kits along with pens and pads and taught lessons about banking and the banking system. 

Thanks to all the teachers and kids for such a fun event!

Techs and fire department personnel worked with parents to properly fit the seat into their car, and the child safely into the seat. Many seats did not pass inspection and low cost, certified car seats were available to replace them.  Firefighters destroyed the unsafe seats so they could never be used again.
 

Florida Keys Healthy Start and Centennial Bank want to educate parents on the following points:

• 3 out of 4 car seats are improperly installed
• Most car seats expire 5 to 6 years from manufacture
• All kids under 13 should ride in the rear seat
• Infants should ride in rear facing car seats installed in the back seat
• After outgrowing regular seats, kids should ride in booster seats until they are 80 lbs

For more information see www.keyshealthystart.org.
 

Take Stock in Children is a non-profit comprehensive program that helps low-income and at-risk students escape the cycle of poverty through education.  Take Stock in Children provide students college scholarships, volunteer mentor, student advocates, case managers and tutoring.

In this picture, front is Trisha Fohr, Kathy Scherer.  Back is Bob Garrison, Bryan Hoover with Take Stock in Children and Rebecca Shea.

The Fort Myers Softball Club recently won a co-ed tournament and donated the event’s proceeds to Logan. But not only that, they donated their purple and gold trophy.

Nine-year old Logan was severely burned in July behind his Punta Gorda home while playing with gasoline and fire. After extensive treatment at Shriner's Hospital in Cincinnati, Logan continues on his quest for a complete recovery.

“Here you go, buddy!” Foshee said as she presented the trophy in the Punta Gorda lobby of Centennial Bank. “This is almost as big as you are!”

The card attached from Angie Baker with the Fort Myers Softball Club echoed the sentiments of the entire Southwest Florida community.    

“We are wishing you a speed recovery! We are all rooting for you!”

Logan Nelson’s eyes widen as Lyn Foshee of the Centennial Bank branch in Punta Gorda presents him with a trophy from the Fort Myers Softball Club.

  Logan Nelson reads words of encouragement from the Fort Myers Softball Club as his grandmother, Elizabeth Nelson, stands nearby.

(l to r): Claire Chronister, Centennial Bank:  Logan Nelson; Elizabeth Nelson, Logan’s grandmother; Lyn Foshee, Centennial Bank.

Pictured (from left) Centennial Bank C.E.O. Randy Sims, Quitman School Superintendent Larry Freeman, Rhonda Bradford, Susan Johnson, Centennial Bank Market President David Druey and also on hand for the presentation was Blake Browning, vice president of Business Development.

Over 400 people were served a hot breakfast and enjoyed a program which featured comments from the Superintendent, the district's Teacher of the Year, and special guest, Dr. Dale Henry, a nationally known motivational speaker. Each teacher received a Centennial Bank coffee cup, pens, and note pads. Several employees were there to greet and mingle with the teachers and staff including: Jim Haynes, Wally Dodson, Susan Payne Turner, Niki Lawhon, Candace Hicks, Tina Langston, and Jerry Evans.

This event was a home run for the bank and may become an annual event.

The American Legion Auxiliary is the world’s largest women’s patriotic service organization. Through its nearly 10,500 units located in every state and some foreign countries, the Auxiliary embodies the spirit of America that has prevailed through war and peace. Along with The American Legion, it solidly stands behind America and her ideals. Find out more http://www.legion.org/auxiliary.

Children were given FREE school supplies and lots of other family friendly activities were present at the Affair. Centennial brought our entire Blountsown staff- and of course Penny- to play and interact with the children. Great family fun for the whole community!!!

Centennial Bank Employees: Brenda Cargile, Melody Smith, Pam Skinner, Eileen Cataldo, Vicki Montford, Anita Cantu

Four 80 East performing live at Eddie Rose Amphitheater

Centennial Bank representatives:  Bob Garrison, Rebecca Shea and David Felker speaking to spectators at our booth.

About Uptown Altamonte::
Uptown Altamonte was developed more than 20 years ago by the City to position the community as a central place where residents can live, work, and play. The area-wide development has allowed the City of Altamonte Springs to host some of the finest and most award-winning blend of residential, educational, healthcare, commercial and recreational uses in Central Florida.

We all know it won’t be any easier for future generations, especially if they don’t learn to value of saving money at an early age.

The kids at the Boys & Girls Club of Lake and Sumter Counties (Fla.) received some valuable training in that area the week of July 11-15 when Kathy Scherer, manager of the Centennial Bank in Clermont, conduced financial training class, “Money Matters.”

Scherer covered everything from earning and spending to budgeting and saving toward college. Classes, highlighted by interactive games and role playing, were held daily for kids ages 5-14. There was even a field trip to Centennial Bank, where the children got a tour of the vaults and were entertained by “Penny,” the Centennial mascot.

Here are a few tips to help your children better prepare for their financial future:
 

• Let them watch you balance your checkbook. Explain to them how and why you do it. Not only is this good for money management skills, but it’s also a great way to strengthen math skills.
• Don’t hide your finances from them! Have family meetings talk about family finances, like the cost of the monthly mortgage payment, car payment and bills.
• Take one of your paycheck stubs and help them understand how taxes, insurances and your 401k contributions are deducted and how you will use the rest of the paycheck to pay for household expenses and contribute to your own savings account.
• While your own costs and earnings are private from your family and friends, your children will one day have the same pressures to pay bills and increase their earnings. Don’t be bashful!
• When eating out, help them compare menu items and prices to help them save (like ordering water instead of a soda). At the end of the meal, show them the bill and explain tips and taxes.
• Around age 12, help them set some financial goals. If they have a big-ticket item in mind, like a car at age 16, help them line out a budget and savings method to help them reach that goal down the road.
• Finally, take them to your local Centennial Bank branch and open a kids savings account in their name. It’s never too early to start saving!