Southern Michigan Bank & Trust Receives the
Rotary District 6360 Foundation’s Golden Trowel Award
The Rotary District 6360 Foundation annually presents their Golden Trowel Award to non-Rotarian individuals or groups who have made a major contribution to a Rotary project. This year, Coldwater Township Sunrise Rotary has nominated Southern Michigan Bank & Trust (SMB&T) for their significant, long term support of its annual Sunrise Rotary Golf Outing. The golf outing is one of two major fundraisers conducted by the Coldwater Township Sunrise Rotary. It raises over $20,000 each year and provides more than half of the approximately $40,000 raised by the club annually to support many programs, projects, and individuals within the community.
“We are honored by the nomination, and proud to receive this award,” said John Castle, Chairman and CEO of SMB&T. “The Coldwater Township Sunrise Rotary provides an enormous service for our community, and every time we support one of their causes, we know that we are directly helping those in need.”
Southern has continually recognized the Coldwater Township Sunrise Rotary as an organization that deserves their support. They have been a supporter of the golf outing since its inception 16 years ago in a variety of ways, but as its Title Sponsor for the last ten years. Each year, their early commitment as Title Sponsor allows us to kick off the campaign in March with the premier sponsorship already secured.
SMB&T’s Title Sponsorship is important to the success of the golf outing, but it is not the only reason that they are important to its success. The organization contributes in many other ways. Rotary Club members & Southern employees are given the time to assist in the planning of the golf outing by serving as its co-chair. They provide marketing and promotional materials for the event at no cost and allow other employees to participate in the event. The cash value of the Title Sponsorship is easy to identify, but the value of the marketing/promotional materials and employee participation in the event is immeasurable.
Current Sunrise Rotary president Dave McMillan said, “It was an easy decision to nominate Southern Michigan Bank & Trust for this award and a privilege to present it to them.”
Those present from left to right: Dave McMillan, Coldwater Township Sunrise Rotary President, Nick Grabowski, SMB&T Executive Vice President, Mike Beckwith, Coldwater Township Sunrise Rotary, Sarah Headley, SMB&T First Vice President, Commercial Loan Manager, Coldwater Township Sunrise Rotary, Rick Merrill, Coldwater Township Sunrise Rotary Treasurer.
