First Federal, a McMinnville-based bank, is being recognized with an Innovation in Corporate Philanthropy Award by the Portland Business Journal for its partnership with Linfield College in the First Federal Internship Program.
Watch a video about the program.
The internship program, which began six years ago, provides $5,000 annually to Linfield to support five students with $1,000 stipends to complete internships at local nonprofits.
The students also participate in a monthly seminar taught by Kristi Mackay, Linfield’s assistant director of internship programming, and Jeff Peterson, Linfield sociology professor. A banquet is held at the conclusion to bring together First Federal executives with the interns and nonprofit representatives.
“This program is very unique in that First Federal is providing the financing, but they’re not requiring that interns work at the bank,” said Mackay. “We’ve always had a great relationship with First Federal. They’re constantly looking for ways to help people in the community.”
Last spring, student projects included a 5k Fun Run/Walk with the Yamhill County’s Gospel Rescue, an overhaul of A Family Place Relief Nursery database to streamline a fundraising event, and helping a local food bank turn one-time donors into monthly contributors.
“We had the feeling that it would benefit more people if we made the program oriented toward nonprofits, rather than having them work in the bank,” said Pam Watts, First Federal’s community relationship officer and administrator of the internship program.
For more information about the First Federal internship program, contact Linfield Career Development at 503-883-2733 or career@linfield.edu.
Learn more about the internship.
