German American giving back to support area children and families with Piper the Puppy

March was Red Cross Month, German American Bank and its employees set forth to help raise money and awareness about Piper the Puppy, whose mission is to comfort children affected by disaster.

“For our southern Indiana communities to thrive in the future, we need to do all we can to ensure that our children are emotionally healthy,” said Mark Schroeder, Chairman and CEO, German American. “These puppies give the American Red Cross team the ability to help a child feel more secure when faced with tornadoes, floods, and fires.”

At all 34 locations during the month of March, associates sold Piper Squares and engaged their customers and the community to help adopt Piper the Puppy for a $100 donation. “Our German American team and our customers embraced this program and we were happy to match the raised funds dollar for dollar during March is Red Cross Month.” said Schroeder. “We are proud and humbled to provide the American Red Cross with over $25,000 raised through this program, which will provide vital financial assistance to families and over 250 Pipers for area children,” he added.

All money raised through the Piper the Puppy program is used to support local families faced with a disaster at home (fire, flood, tornado etc.) and helps offer resources like food, clothing, shelter, mental health counseling and more. “Thanks to strong community partners like German American, I am excited to watch Piper begin accompanying Red Cross volunteers on the scene of a disaster because there he will hug, embrace and offer comfort to children,” said Regional CEO Matt Bertram. “Piper the Puppy is not a once a year program, we aim to put Piper into the arms of more than 1,000 children annually with a new friend and to do that we need your help,”

Piper the Puppy can be adopted for a tax-deductible $100 donation to the American Red Cross by contacting your local Red Cross chapter or visiting www.tristateredcross.org. Every Piper is personalized in the name of yourself or someone your care about and choose to honor.

“As a community focused financial services company, giving back is engrained in our culture and why our support of this program doesn’t stop here – we’re challenging all of the communities we serve to continue adopting Pipers, make a corporate gift or host a fundraiser because the Red Cross needs all of our help now,” Schroeder commented. “Every German American location will have Piper the Puppy adoption information on hand in the months to come because we want to ensure if you’re compelled to help – you have yet another place you can turn to do so,” he added. You can help us help others by adopting Piper the Puppy – join us!

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