November 2015


GulfShore Bank: A Commitment to Philanthropy and Volunteerism
          
GulfShore Bank is a "community bank" in every sense of the words. As a locally owned bank, GulfShore's culture includes maintaining strong ties to the community. Their leadership feels so strongly about community involvement that each employee is encouraged and expected to volunteer with their favorite cause.     

The bank supports numerous non-profit organizations in the Tampa Bay area including the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay. GulfShore sponsors the Cup of Compassion breakfast and is a member of the Crisis Center's Sustainer Society.  Each year it participates in the Holiday Giving Program, and most recently it held a Fall donation drive to help restock food and personal care items in the Crisis Center's pantry.

And GulfShore's support of the Crisis Center isn't limited to corporate donations.  President & CEO, Joe Caballero and Senior VP, Barbara Curts, are both involved individually with the Crisis Center. Joe and Barbara are both members of the Sustainer Society and Barbara serves on the Crisis Center's development committee and is a Women in Action member.

Barbara also volunteers her time as an advocate in Sexual Assault Services. She provides support and resources for sexual assault survivors who come to the Crisis Center in the immediate hours after a sexual assault. There have been many times when Barbara has been called into the Crisis Center in the middle of the night during a work week to help a survivor. Barbara explains why she's passionate about the organization:

"Getting involved with the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay was a natural fit for me because years ago I was the victim of a sexual assault in a small town in Florida. There was no real crisis center for someone who was assaulted. Many of the services survivors need can be found at the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay, and I know when I volunteer I'm making a difference. The survivors I help are in a better place when they leave the Crisis Center!"

Companies like GulfShore Bank and community leaders like Joe and Barbara are what allow the Crisis Center to be there for people in their time of crisis. Thank you to all the companies, donors, and volunteers who give their time, talent and treasure to help ensure that no one in our community has to face crisis alone!