Bank helps community stars support their special causes

Coeur d’Alene’s Human Rights Institute is one step closer to existing thanks to Panhandle State Bank. The bank also can take at least partial credit for North Idaho College’s new health sciences center, scholarships to NIC, the Coeur d’Alene Public Library’s future new home and a water life discovery center in Sandpoint.

Thanks to Panhandle State Bank, the blossoming art park at Harding Family Center is about to sprout with more color, energy and creativity.

“It’s absolutely wonderful,” says Doug Fagerness, the most recent person to help Panhandle State Bank decide how to spend its money. “The bank is part of the community, not a separate entity. What a powerful way to affirm that connection.”

Doug won the bank’s 2004 Community Star award last month. He’s the director of North Idaho College Head Start. The Community Star award this year comes with $1,000 for the winner to contribute to charities or nonprofit organizations of his or her choice.

Last year, the award came with $500 for the winner to donate to community charities. Sandy Emerson, former director of Coeur d’Alene’s Chamber of Commerce and a land appraiser now, was the winner. He turned the $500 into $1,000 by asking his Rotary Club to match the money. Sandy gave $200 each to five organizations.

“It draws attention to those organizations and more people donate,” Sandy says. “It’s the multiplier effect. The bank does a good job.”

Panhandle State Bank understands that giving back to the communities that support it is a responsibility, not a choice. That’s why the bank began its Community Star award two years ago.

“There are so many people who do give back to the community who don’t get recognized,” says Ann Siebert. She’s a personal banking officer and coordinates the award program for the bank’s Coeur d’Alene branch. “It’s nice to work for someone who recognizes them.”

The bank could have named a star and stopped there. Instead, it asked a group from outside the bank to study the nominations and choose that person who would donate the bank’s money in the community’s best interest. Nominations were few at first, but this year the bank received 12.

“A little girl nominated her parents. ‘My stars are my mom and dad,’ ” Ann says, reading from a nomination form.

This year’s nominees ranged from people who work in nonprofits to a horse trainer. Doug was formidable competition, although he had no idea he was nominated.

“Doug is a leader in the true sense of the word, a skillful communicator and visionary,” wrote attorney Denny Davis and veterinarian consultant Dave Gerber in their nomination letter. “His energy is boundless and accomplishments many, including the miraculous transformation of the Harding Family Center from a condemned elementary school to quasi-community center and headquarters of North Idaho Head Start.”

Doug was characteristically embarrassed when friends and supporters surprised him with news of the award last month.

“I don’t feel like a star, more like a moon reflecting the stars around me,” he says, then smiles as a funny thought occurs to him. “But I don’t think they give awards for mooning.”

The responsibility of spending the $1,000 award wisely dropped Doug into days of deep thought.

“So many things in the community are wonderful and deserve support,” he says, his basset hound eyes full of concern.

But he could see the choice out his office window – the art park. He was certain.

“My love is the art park. It’s opened possibilities for people,” Doug says. “How can you love your country until you love a place? Art is a way of loving a place.”

For nearly four years, the community has worked to turn Harding’s playground into a creative space that stimulates imaginations, draws eyes and allows people an escape. Wild color stretches from tile mosaics on the center’s brick walls to prehistoric-style creatures and fantasy pathways on the ground. Projects are open to everyone.

Doug wants to use award money to offer workshops to the public and pay artists, who mostly volunteer their time now.

The bank’s Post Falls’ branch chose New Vision teacher Colleen Kelsey as this year’s Community Star. The Rathdrum branch also will give out the award but hasn’t chosen the recipient yet.

Meanwhile, the money the bank awarded to Sandy last year is hard at work promoting education and growing a human rights center and a library.

“I was surprised at how people saw the award as an important honor,” Sandy says. “I got congratulated by folks, still do and there’s impact beyond that. Being able to take an award and use it productively for a cause is a bonus.”

For the entire community. Thanks Panhandle State Bank.