Corporate Partner
In 2006, Firstrust Bank partnered with the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce to introduce the Family First program. As the region’s first program of its kind, the Family First program offers educational programs, panel discussions and exclusive networking events to cultivate and grow family businesses. Each year, the program helps even more family businesses to realize their dreams.
The concept of the Family First program grew from Firstrust Bank’s own roots as a family business. For three generations, Firstrust Bank has carried out my grandfather’s vision to cultivate prosperity in the communities we serve. We know firsthand that family businesses are a vital segment of our business community, so we developed this program with the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce to provide the tools necessary to help other families like ours achieve success.
Family businesses comprise nearly 90% of all business enterprises in the United States. They account for nearly two-thirds of the country’s Gross Domestic Product and Total Employment. In our region, family businesses employ approximately 1.2 million people and generate nearly $100 billion of the area’s $155 billion 2005 Gross Metro Product. Family firms are also the principal driver of job growth. According to studies, they are responsible on average for 80% of new job creation.
We look forward to bringing interesting and important programming to family businesses in the Greater Philadelphia region. If you are a family business owner, I encourage you to attend our Family First events throughout the year and continue to visit the Family First web site for helpful information and advice.
Sincerely,
Richard J. Green
Vice Chairman and C.E.O.
Firstrust Bank
About Firstrust
At Firstrust, we recognize community leaders. Our cornerstone, dating back to 1934, is a commitment to community. Our charitable contributions are both mutually beneficial and satisfying. If you do well, we do well. This is our investment in the future. Education, children, health and housing are close to our heart but we’ve also supported enriching cultural events such as the Devon Horse Show, Southampton Days and the Prince Theater.
Beyond monetary contributions, our employees share their time and management expertise through a variety of volunteer efforts such as serving meals to the homeless and organizing trips for children with disabilities.
Firstrust has supported City Year, a nationwide organization that recruits young people to help disadvantaged residents of inner cities with school, work and life skills, since the program’s inception in 1988. Locally, the bank supports this effort by underwriting a team working with an after-school program in North Philadelphia. Firstrust is also involved with Variety Club, an organization that focuses on special needs children. In all, the bank supports several hundred worthy nonprofits in the Delaware and Lehigh Valleys.
For more information about our Community Firsts Program, call us at 800-220-BANK (2265).