The Need

2024 marked the third year in a row that Bell Bank team members in Owensboro, Ky., volunteered to bring Christmas to thousands of children through local WBKR radio’s Christmas Wish project. Bell’s “elves” wanted to make sure they supported Christmas Wish in a big way this time around – not only by volunteering, but by opening a “pool” for employees who might choose to donate Pay It Forward funds.

Christmas Wish has as its mission that every child in the tri-state region gets a visit from Santa, explains promotions director Barb Birgy. Families submit letters on behalf of themselves or other individuals. Volunteers read the letters and then, from heaps of donations, choose the toys that would best suit those children.

Now in its 48th season, Christmas Wish runs all the way through Christmas Eve to make holiday wishes come true for kids and families.

“You read the letters of these families, and you feel in your heart that you want to help them,” says Barb.

The Impact

In the midst of their volunteer time, Bell’s team surprised Barb and Christmas Wish with their pooled Pay It Forward funds – and handed over a check that 

totaled a whopping $10,500!

Those added funds, Barb noted, would help Christmas Wish purchase even more presents to fill the toy tables “and really give kids the Christmas they deserve.”

“You’re part of the Christmas Wish family, and that’s what we really appreciate and we love,” Barb told the volunteers.

“I’ve never worked for a company that entrusts me with money like Bell does,” says Kathie Wolfe, mortgage servicing insurance manager at Bell. “The fact that they give me this money and say, ‘Help someone in need,’ that touches my heart more than anything.”

A co-worker agreed, “That felt amazing” – then returned to the letters from families, and the toys that would make their Christmas bright.

Through the Pay It Forward program, Bell gives employees money each year to donate to people in need and causes they care about.