Kish Bank Hosts 8th Annual Celebration of Community, Honors Local Humanitarians, Nonprofits, and More

May 16, 2025

PRESS RELEASE

STATE COLLEGE, PA – Kish Bank hosted its 8^th annual Kish Celebrates Community reception at the newly renovated Nittany Lion Inn, where 250 attendees gathered in celebration of community and the heroic efforts of the community organizations, nonprofits, and dedicated volunteers of the Central PA region.

“We are here to share our pride in this region, celebrate your commitment to our communities, and recognize the work of so many outstanding organizations and individuals impacting the quality of life here in Central PA,” said William P. Hayes, Executive Chairman of Kish Bank, as he addressed the crowd. “Like you, all of us at Kish are so proud to call this place home, and proud to be part of the lives of the people who live here. And now, as Kish Bank celebrates its 125^th anniversary of serving Central Pennsylvania’s communities, it becomes even more important to us that we focus on the tradition of community caring and reinvestment that has differentiated us since our founding in 1900.”

Humanitarians of the Year Award

A highlight of the evening was the presentation of Kish’s Humanitarians of the Year Award to Steve and Patricia Benkovic of State College. Called Penn State’s “first couple of chemistry” for more than five decades of pioneering contributions in their shared discipline to address threats to human health, the Benkovics’ Research Initiative is a funding mechanism designed to directly support fresh, bold research projects at the interface of chemistry and the life sciences.

As Hayes explained, “Together, they have dedicated their lives to unraveling the mysteries of enzyme mechanisms and catalysis. Their groundbreaking research has earned them prestigious accolades, including the National Medal of Science. They believed in the potential of their work and found innovative ways to support and advance their research. As we honor Steve and Pat Benkovic, we celebrate their unwavering commitment to science and humanity. Their journey is a shining example of what can be achieved through resilience, collaboration, and an unwavering belief in the power of science. They have shown us that even in the face of adversity, we can rise above and make a lasting impact on the world.”

The Humanitarians of the Year Award was sponsored by Strouse Electric Inc.

Humanitarian of the Year Award recipients. From left: Patricia Benkovic, Bill Hayes of Kish, Steve Benkovic

Outstanding Nonprofit of the Year Award

Girls Night Out, Altoona Inc. was awarded Kish’s Outstanding Nonprofit of the Year Award in recognition of being on the front lines of fighting breast cancer here in Central PA.

In presenting the award, Kish Bank President and CEO Greg Hayes said, “What began as a simple ‘pay it forward’ effort has grown into a movement. Since 2008, this entirely volunteer-led organization has raised more than $1.8 million—funds that directly support breast cancer research, life-saving screenings, and financial assistance for uninsured and underinsured patients right here in Central Pennsylvania. This group continues to show what’s possible when purpose meets perseverance.”

The Outstanding Nonprofit of the Year Award was sponsored by UPMC Altoona and its Foundation.

Outstanding Nonprofit of the Year Award recipient, Girls Night Out Altoona, Inc., with Greg Hayes.

Other Highlights

Kish’s Community Impact Award, an award given annually to a Kish employee for their outstanding volunteering efforts, was awarded to Carolyn Donaldson, Vice President, Community Engagement. Donaldson was recognized for serving her Central PA community by volunteering over 200 hours each year serving on boards and committees, including The Central PA Festival of the Arts, The Altoona Symphony, Special Olympics PA, and as a Trustee for Mount Aloysius College in Cresson, PA.

Kish highlighted its unique partnership with Giv Local, a Certified Benefit Corporation that provides credit card merchant processing with a promise to donate 20% of the revenue back to a local nonprofit of each business’s choosing at no additional cost. Greg Hayes announced that in 2024, a total of $64,475 was donated to 133 nonprofits in Central PA through Kish and Giv Local’s partnership, bringing total donations since its launch in 2020 to over $188,000.

The Bob Perks Cancer Assistance Fund, PA Pink Zone, and the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life of Mifflin/Juniata were honored for leading the fight against cancer in the Central PA region. Kish celebrated the results of its 2024 Kish for the Cure Campaign, through which employees raised over $90,000 for the three beneficiary organizations. Since its inception, Kish’s annual campaigns against cancer have raised more than $625,000.

The evening also featured Katie Shumacher-Cawley, Penn State Women’s Volleyball Head Coach, as a special guest and keynote speaker. Schumacher-Cawley spoke of leading her remarkable 2024 team to the NCAA Division 1 National Championship, all while publicly battling her breast cancer diagnosis. As the first female head coach to lead a team to this title, Shumacher-Cawley thanked her family, her team, her staff, and her community for their ongoing support and resilience, and spoke of the hard work that continues this upcoming season to build on the success and strength of the team and her survivorship.

Keynote speaker, Coach Katie Shumacher-Cawley of Penn State University.

About Kish Bank

Kish Bank is a $1.8 billion regional community bank that operates 19 offices and financial centers serving Centre, Mifflin, Huntingdon, Blair, and Juniata counties, and northeastern Ohio. Other business units of Kish Bank include Kish Insurance, Kish Financial Solutions, Kish Benefits Consulting, and Kish Travel. Kish Bank is a subsidiary of Kish Bancorp, Inc., trading under the OTCQX stock ticker symbol of KISB. For additional information, please visit MyKish.com.

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