"Mountain West Bank has always encouraged its employees to be involved in the community," said Bobbi Mehringer, Vice President Loan Servicing Manager with Mountain West Bank. She knows how important corporate relationships are to United Way. She is serving her sixth year on the United Way Board of Directors and has volunteered for more than 15 years with United Way in other areas of leadership. Mehringer enjoys working on special projects with United Way throughout the year. This enables her to see firsthand some of the areas United Way helps the most, and she shares that message with her co-workers throughout the bank.

"This business model of community involvement started when we were a brand new bank and has continued to grow as part of our bank's culture," Mehringer said. "I believe in United Way and love how many people we can touch through so many different programs. To be involved with United Way is a way for me, and our employees, to help as many people as we can in our community. Being involved is so important to our organization that we close half day for the Community Day of Caring, a United Way Fundraising Campaign Kickoff event, so every employee can participate.

Mountain West Bank's employee participation has grown because of United Way's Day of Caring. Combined with the Bank's Employee Giving Campaign, employees share in the vision of a brighter future for those less fortunate than themselves.

Linda Holehan, Vice President Training and Employee Development for Mountain West Bank, shares the passion for helping people. She volunteers her time and is the driving force coordinating the United Way employee giving campaigns throughout 22 branches, across three states, representing six different local United Ways within the bank's footprint. Each year, she coordinates hundreds of Mountain West Bank volunteers to serve in our local nonprofits for the Day of Caring.

When asked how she pulls it all together, modestly, she says, "It just happens!" However, Holehan is a longtime spokesperson for United Way. She began her United Way volunteering 15 years ago as a loaned executive, and has shared her talents in many different roles with United Way of Kootenai County. She has served on the Citizens Review Panel, was the 2005 Fundraising Campaign Chairperson, served on the Board of Directors for six years, and currently co-chairs the Community Impact Coordinating Council.

"Volunteering is part of who I am," said Holehan, who enjoys being able to make a difference. "If just one person is positively affected, that is a success for me."

"United Way is the conduit in the community, bringing everything together," Holehan continues. "The number of United Way partner agencies has increased over the last 15 years. One in three people utilize these agencies for assistance. I believe the support in the community has spread the LIVE UNITED message, and United Way, and its programs, make it easy for our employees to make a difference."

Mountain West Bank President/COO Russ Porter shares his employees' passion, "The long-term affiliation with United Way by Bobbi Mehringer and Linda Holehan really speaks to their understanding of how fortunate some of us are to be able to make life a little better for those in our community that are not as fortunate. Without the support and dedication of individuals like Bobbi and Linda we could not take pride in what is accomplished through our community's financial giving and volunteerism."

Bobbi Mehringer has always worked in banking. She began as a teller 32 years ago and worked her way to Vice President Loan Servicing Manager. Mehringer comes from a large family of nine children and was inspired throughout her childhood by her mom, who was always helping someone in need.

She lives on a farm with her wonderful husband of 30 years.

Linda Holehan has been with Mountain West Bank for 17 years and also, always worked in financial institutions. She takes great pride in her 19-year leadership involvement with Girls Scouts of America. A Post Falls resident, she is married, 33 years, and has two grown children.

Please visit www.kootenaiunitedway.org, click on the "VOLUNTEER" link to view other volunteer opportunities in YOUR community, or contact Jeanette Laster at United Way of Kootenai County, (208) 667-8112, Ext. 101.

GET CONNECTED!

The United Way of Kootenai County Volunteer Center

GET CONNECTED!

* "One-Stop Volunteer Resource Center" for the whole community

* Ongoing and one-time volunteer opportunities

* TAKE ACTION

(208) 667-8112

Visit the United Way's Volunteer Center website: www.kootenaiunitedway.org

GIVE. ADVOCATE. VOLUNTEER