Continuing its annual tradition, Sunstate Bank presented a check to the Deering Estate Foundation on May 1, 2019, to once again sponsor a portion of the Deering Estate Field Study Scholarship Program for school children. Under a sunny sky, Lloyd DeVaux, President and CEO of Sunstate Bank presented a check for $2,500 to Larissa Siegel Lara, Executive Director of the foundation.
“Giving back to the communities where we live and work is an obligation we take very seriously at Sunstate Bank,” said DeVaux. “The Deering Estate is an important historical landmark in South Florida that we have proudly supported for a number of years. It is our pleasure to support not only the annual Seafood Festival, but also the Deering Estate Field Study Program. The field trip is a great day of hands-on learning for the students.”
“Sunstate Bank is a long-time community leader that cares about the Deering Estate,” said Lara. “The Deering Estate Foundation is very pleased to have such a strong partnership within our community that is committed to the work the Foundation does to preserve the Deering Estate for all generations. They really understand service and community involvement. We are proud to do business with Sunstate Bank and very grateful for their support.”
Sunstate Bank’s donation will provide financial assistance to underwrite program and transportation fees for qualified Miami-Dade County school children participating in the Deering Estate Field Study Program. The program is committed to helping schools close the achievement gap between disadvantaged and minority students and their peers and is open to students from Kindergarten to 12th Grade enrolled in Title 1 schools.
School children participating in the day-long program get a chance to explore the historic Deering Estate and learn about South Florida’s ecology through hands-on science experiments. One of the requirements of the program is that students write a short essay reflecting what they learned during their participation in the field study.
On July 1, 2019, DeVaux will take the helm as Chairman of the Florida Banker’s Association, one of Florida’s oldest trade associations representing more than 170 Florida banks. “I am honored to have been selected to chair the association,” he said. “It is through our collective efforts that the banking industry is able to support and grow our communities and our state, and I look forward to leading this effort for the next fiscal year.”
Sunstate Bank, with approximately $435 million in assets and three locations, is a full-service bank founded in 1999 and headquartered in Miami-Dade County. The bank serves both domestic and international customers. For more information, please visit www.sunstatefl.com.
