Tompkins Vist Bank exceeds fundraising goal for Muscular Dystrophy Association.
Tompkins VIST Bank raised over $17,000 at its fourth annual fundraiser for the Muscular Dystrophy Association, exceeding its goal of $16,800. The Cow Pie Bingo event was held at Classic Harley-Davidson. The amount brings the total the bank has raised since 2014 to over $60,000, including matching gifts from the Jeremy Carroll Foundation. The funds will be used to send children with neuromuscular disease to a summer camp this year. The cost to send one child to MDA’s Variety Club Camp in Worcester, Montgomery County, is $1,200, all covered by the MDA.
The public purchased $20 squares from the bank for a chance to claim the spot where the cow would lay a pie. More than 100 bank customers, employees, MDA supporters and others watched as two steer calves wandered around a grassy pen adjacent to the dealership. It took only five minutes for one of the calves to pick its spot. The calves belong to 14-year-old Jonathon Werley, who is raising them for a 4H project. Jonathon is the son of Travis and Lisa Werley. Travis is the head of the bank’s agribusiness group and himself a farmer.
“This is the fourth and best year yet for our Muscular Dystrophy fundraiser, and we appreciate everyone’s generosity,” said Stephanie Waits, MDA committee chair and executive assistant to the president and CEO at Tompkins VIST Bank. “We’re especially pleased that more local children will be able to experience MDA summer camp.”
Anastasia Pavlack, fundraising coordinator for MDA, said that MDA appreciates the energy and commitment that Tompkins VIST Bank employees put into this event every year. “The money raised through fundraisers like this help fund medical clinics, summer camp for local children, support groups, and lifesaving research,” she said.