Gresham Ford wins award for community dedication

By Shannon Wells

The Gresham Outlook, Dec 11, 2009, Updated Dec 11, 2009

Gresham Ford, the 2009 recipient of the Oregon Bankers Association’s “Community Applause Award,” will donate its $1,000 prize to Snow-CAP Community Charities.

The award, co-sponsored by the Independent Community Banks of Oregon and Oregon Business magazine, recognizes two businesses each year that play a significant role in community charity and activities. Gresham Ford won in the category of businesses with more than 50 employees.

Nominated by Casey Ryan, vice president and branch manager of the Riverview Bank Wood Village branch, the Ford dealership, 1940 E. Powell Blvd., is the first East County business nominated since the award originated in 1996.

Bess Wills, general manager of Gresham Ford, says she’s honored to receive the award and have an opportunity to give something back to the community during a period of economic hardship.

“There’s no more important time to give than in these difficult times,” Wills says. “You have to maintain creative ways to accomplish this and make our dollars go further.”

She appreciates the fact that Riverview Bank – with so many generous, community-oriented businesses to choose from – singled out Gresham Ford for the nomination.

“It’s particularly a good feeling,” Wills says, “because to be recognized by the Bankers Association is great, but to be nominated by someone like Casey at Riverview Bank, a local business, is even greater.”

Some of Gresham Ford’s beneficiaries include the following:

1 | 2 Next Page >>

Facebook	Digg	Del.icio.us
Newsvine	Stumbleupon	Reddit