Colorado Business Bank – a community partner of The Community Foundation Serving Boulder County for four years running – has long emphasized giving back.
“As a company, it’s a high priority for us,” says Narciso Garibay, Vice-President of Colorado Business Bank Northwest | CoBiz Financial in Louisville. “Youth at risk are a particular area of focus for us.”
Indeed, the company’s upcoming black-tie Biz Bash – an annual event that, since 2001, has raised millions of dollars for nonprofits organizations in Colorado and Arizona – is sold out. Each year, proceeds from the benefit child-focused organizations.
Another aspect of the company’s giving philosophy is its foundation, CoBiz Cares. “It’s an employee-funded, company-matched, grant-giving nonprofit organization,” Garibay explained. “With the goal of supporting agencies serving our local communities, we receive and review applications, and allot funds to different charities every quarter. It’s our culture to be involved with the communities we serve.”
Garibay says that partnering with The Community Foundation Serving Boulder County closely correlates with the company’s vision.
“We participate in many of The Community Foundation’s events, in addition to donating every year. We think of the foundation as a very worthy investment in strengthening our local communities,” he continued. “The foundation really took on a leadership role during the 2013 floods. We want to support that kind of leadership.”
The company’s community-oriented approach to doing business is widely embraced among its employees. “Just as we try to be trusted advisors for our clients, we highly encourage our customers and employees to contribute to our communities in different ways,” Garibay says. “Everyone here has a similar outlook on doing well professionally, but always giving back. Our customers, too, often participate in sponsoring tables at charitable events.
“Being engaged in our communities is a win-win for everyone.”
