A gift they can bank on

A number of Minnwest Bank employees took time for a group photo with members of the Tracy Community Center Workforce Group last Thursday. Pictured are, front, from left: Sara Torkelson, Becky Averill, Darcy Carlson, Janine Vandendriessche. Middle, from left: Kaylen Weidert, Mandy Hoffman, Charlene Lenertz, Karen Krog, Shirley Anderson, Adelle Thomas, Pam Peterson. Back, from left: Andrea Schreier, Kim Bruder, Nikki Hippe, Jim Vandendriessche, Dave Lenertz, Tom Dobson, Ken Witt, Mary Squires. Photo / Per Peterson

Keeping true to its tradition of supporting communities that are home to one of its branches, Minnwest Bank of Tracy has made a $100,000 donation pledge for Tracy’s new proposed community center.

The gift is one in a string of many that has been presented to the Community Center Workforce Group, which was formed last year as kind of a fundraising jumping-off point. As of today, the total amount raised through various donations and pledges is $550,000.

The cost of a new 2,800-square foot center, which may or may not be attached to the east side of the City Hall/Veterans Memorial Center building on Morgan St., has been estimated at $850,000.

The donation, said Darcy Carlson, commercial banker at Minnwest Bank in Tracy, also speaks to the philanthropic nature of Minnwest Bank, which has grown to more than 25 branches in Minnesota.