FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Karen Greene Smith, Communications Coordinator
Denise Louie Education Center
(425) 533-0805
ksmith@deniselouie.org
DENISE LOUIE EDUCATION CENTER IS AWARDED COLUMBIA BANK’S $7500 GRANT
Denise Louie Education Center to receive financial support for its early learning services to families.
SEATTLE, DEC. 23, 2020 – To best support local communities through the pandemic, Columbia Bank will be donating $7,500 to Denise Louie Education Center (DLEC) through the red envelope grant. The money will go to support agency operations to better support families enrolled in DLEC’s early education programs, many of whom have been deemed essential workers. DLEC’s programs serve primarily immigrant and refugee families who have an income under $25,750 for a family of four. Priority for enrollment into the program is given to children in foster care, children with special needs, and families experiencing homelessness.
From left to right: Columbia Bank’s Treasury Management Officer, Sheila Esmeralda; Denise Louie Education Center’s Development Director Nikki Huang; Columbia Bank’s VP, Business Banking Relationship Manager Siti F. Mohamed.
In the Chinese culture, the color red signifies energy, happiness and good luck. Every year, millions of red envelopes filled with brand new paper currency are given to family, friends and the community. The amount of money varies, but the focus of the red envelope itself is to bring good luck.
Columbia Bank’s Asian Client Service Team was formed to better serve clients’ bilingual needs as well as provide opportunities to foster connection within the local Asian community. “We wanted to give to an organization that serves populations who most need the support as well as would value the significance of giving through red envelopes,” said Siti F. Mohamed, VP, Business Banking Relationship Manager. “We know that many DLEC families are immigrants from countries where Lunar New Year is the biggest celebration of the year, and all their families are greatly impacted by the pandemic. We also know that preserving the cultural heritage of each family has always been a core part of DLEC’s mission.”
“We are so grateful to Columbia Bank – both for their generosity to our families and also for recognizing the importance in celebrating cultural heritage at this time in our history,” stated DLEC Executive Director, Susan Yang. “Columbia Bank has long been a dedicated community partner to DLEC, and their commitment to supporting diverse communities through bilingual services and volunteerism – from generous donations to hands-on packing up supplies and delivering winter drive gifts to the homes of our families – has been greatly appreciated.”
Denise Louie Education Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation that provides high-quality multicultural early learning and family support services for low income children and families in the King County area. To learn more about Denise Louie Education Center, go to Deniselouie.org.
Headquartered in Tacoma, Washington, Columbia Banking System, Inc. (NASDAQ: COLB) is the holding company of Columbia Bank, a Washington state-chartered full-service commercial bank with locations throughout Washington, Oregon and Idaho. More information about Columbia can be found on its website at columbiabank.com.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Contact: Karen Greene Smith, Communications Coordinator
Denise Louie Education Center
(425) 533-0805
ksmith@deniselouie.org
