The Mahomet Chamber of Commerce named First Mid-Illinois Bank and Trust the 2013 Business of the Year Tuesday night.
“We feel completely honored,” Assistant Vice President Elisha Walters said. “Everyone has been on cloud nine. So many businesses and community members do so much outside of their daily jobs. It feels good to (give back). You don’t expect to be recognized, but when you do, it feels amazing.”
While First Mid-Illinois receives requests for donations from all over, the Mahomet branch focuses strictly on organizations within the Mahomet community.
With an interest in bettering the lives of children, First Mid donates to the Mahomet-Seymour Schools Foundation, towards Mahomet-Seymour extra-curricular activities, to the Mahomet Area Youth Club and the Mahomet Parks and Recreation Department.
They also contribute to the Sangamon River Music Festival, among other organizations.
“We just want to be goodwill ambassadors,” Walters said. “We feel like those organizations are as well. We want to partner with people we feel have the same bottom line as we do: to keep the community together.”
First Mid-Illinois Bank and Trust also encourages employees to donate time and money to their local communities.
“We certainly encourage each employee to be involved,” she said. “I would say most of them are involved in something outside of work. We want to reach out in any way we can to help.”
Walters has served on the Mahomet Area Chamber of Commerce board since 2011. She was co-chairman for the Get Up and Go Expo and Light Up Mahomet. Walters was also a committee member for Steppin’ Out! Ladies Night Out and Samplings of the Season.
Continuing down the path of personal connections, Walters began to mentor a kindergarten student at Middletown recently.
“It’s been the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done,” she said. “Period. I can’t explain how good it makes me feel to just there for someone.”
Senior Vice President Mitch Swim served as Chairman of the Presence Covenant Medical Center Foundation Board, and Is the Champaign County Representative on the Eastern Illinois Economic Development Authority.
Mahomet branch employees also collected mittens during the holiday season to donate to Mahomet Helping Hands.
First Mid-Illinois Bank and Trust employees within Champaign County are encouraged to donate a portion of their salary through a one-time donation or payroll deduction to the United Way. Each year, First Mid matches the total employee contribution.
In 2013, all Mahomet First Mid employees contributed to the United Way, increasing the amount donated overall.
First Mid-Illinois Bank and Trust was also recognized as a leading provider of SBA loans in Illinois by the Illinois District Office of the U.S. Small Business Administration Department (SBA).
The Mahomet-Seymour School District and Bridle Brook Senior Living Community were also nominated.
