By nFocus Charlotte

Every once and a while people do a good thing just for the sheer pleasure of doing it.  When that person happens to be an executive at a large financial institution, with lots of executive friends in other large financial institutions, that good thing can be a very big thing.

“Friends and colleagues, past, present and future, let us come together for a unique opportunity to reignite the Charlotte financial services community for a noble cause.“

That was Jim Kelligrew’s vision for the June 7th, Banking On Our Community event, and so read the invitation.  Kelligrew, who currently leads U.S. Bank’s High Grade Fixed Income Group, decided it was time to give Charlotte’s financial services industry a morale boost – both within their own community and the community at large.

He was inspired by conversations with past and present financial services leaders in the Charlotte community; namely Hugh McColl, Pat Phillips, Carlos Evans, Lisa DeCarlo, Tim Mullins, Walter Dolhare, and Eric Llyod.  In discussions, they talked about how much the banking landscape had changed post 2008/2009 through mergers, changes in leadership, and general “people movement” from one firm to another. In the Charlotte banking community since 1993, Jim himself had gone from Nations Bank to Wachovia, to his present post at U.S. Bank.

ut amidst all of the changes, there was one thing Jim wanted to ensure remained the same. “The financial services industry in Charlotte, both old and new players, has been and will always be a leader, if not the leader, in philanthropic giving,” said Jim.

So Jim went to his colleagues at Bank of America and Wells Fargo and proposed an event that would reconnect and reunite past, present, and future leaders in the industry in a fun way, while raising money for charity.  His colleagues agreed and the three companies became the event’s anchor sponsors, underwriting the event costs enabling all proceeds to go to charity.

The anchor sponsors each chose a charity recipient (U.S. Bank – Dore Academy; Bank of America – Charlotte Bridge Home; Wells Fargo – Discovery Place) and then collectively chose the Autism Foundation for the Carolinas and The Mint Museum, who hosted the event. Tribble Creative Group was hired to plan and produce the event that featured a wine tasting, guest speaker Steven Israel, an awards presentation to industry honorees, and a live auction.

Through ticket sales, auction proceeds, and paddle raises, the event raised $200,000 for the charitable organizations in the community.  But the real unique aspect of this event was the humility and purpose for which it was done.  There were no media invites, press releases, or photo ops with oversized checks.  The only reason you are reading about it in NFocus, is because of our personal knowledge of the event and the permission we were granted to feature it.

Which suggests that despite the negative tumult of the last few years, perhaps we can bank on our financial industry.

Read the original article in nFocus Charlotte.