For Alabama businesses , giving back is more important than ever . It ’ s the right thing to do , of course , but today ’ s employees also expect you to make meaningful contributions to the community . Being a true champion for the community should be about more than writing a check , though . To make a meaningful impact , businesses must be committed to their community in more ways than just financial .

With this in mind , here are some tips for getting involved in your community beyond simply making donations .

INVOLVE YOURSELF IN NONPROFITS IMPORTANT TO YOUR COMMUNITY The first step is to determine which area nonprofits to support . Listen to your employees and listen to your customers . For Valley Bank here in Montgomery , that means strong involvement in the Girl Scouts of Southern Alabama .

Our local commercial lending banker , Dean Peevy , has been deeply involved in the Girl Scouts for years , and now sits on their Gold Committee . In that role , he works with other community leaders to brainstorm ideas to change the

community through Girl Scout programs .

DONATE YOUR TIME AND TALENT Whether you ’ re in the financial industry , medical field or another type of work , your talents can benefit your community . At Valley , we look for ways to use our financial knowledge to teach financial literacy in the community .

With the local Girl Scouts , we created the “ My Money Map ” Girl Scout badge , which is awarded to Girl Scouts who learn how to save money , set financial goals and develop smart spending habits . The badge is earned through a full-day event hosted by our bankers , and this year , more than 70 girls participated .

Valley also actively partners with schools to deliver critical financial lessons to students from kindergarten through sixth grade , setting a foundation that they can build on as they grow .

ENCOURAGE VOLUNTEERISM We suggest getting your employees involved to make your community involvement meaningful and to provide more impact . This benefits the

community and fosters a sense of camaraderie among your team members .

Valley Bank has created a culture that encourages our employees to volunteer . It ’ s important to provide team members the time to get involved , so we offer our staff two days of paid leave each year to spend time volunteering .

CULTIVATE A CULTURE OF ACTIVE PARTICIPATION To be a champion in your community , it must be a key part of your company culture . So how can you do this ? Try a team-building volunteer day !

One of the organizations we partner with , the Montgomery Food Bank , is a great place to consider for this type of involvement . We spend a whole day volunteering as a team , packing food for the community .

If you want your business to truly get involved in the community , do more than just write a check . With this approach , your company will make a bigger impact , and that ’ s something your employees and your customers will appreciate .

Caryn Hughes is a Senior Vice President , Division Head of C & I Lending for Valley Bank , based in the Montgomery main office . She has been in the banking industry for more than 35 years .