Jennie Andrade, Assistant Vice President, Fillmore Branch, and Adriana Mejia, the Financial Service Representative of the Fillmore Branch presented the check to Kari Skidmore, Principal.

Dr. Gosta Iwasiuk present a check to Kari Skidmore, Principal.

Community support is essential for the local historic Little Red School house to offer enrichment programs such as art to their group of students. And the Bank of the Sierra and a local doctor have stepped up to help. On August 3, 2016, the Fillmore Branch of Bank of Sierra presented a check for $3,000 in support of the Arts Education program to Santa Clara Elementary school. Jennie Andrade, Assistant Vice President and Adriana Mejia, the Financial Service Representative of the Fillmore Branch of the Bank presented the check to Kari Skidmore, Principal and Amber McCalister, PTO President. Santa Clara Elementary aka "The Little Red School House" is a small public K-6 one-room school house, with only three classrooms and three teachers, which was established in 1879 and provides an amazing education for 50-60 K-6th grade students each year. The $3,000 grant was also matched by Dr. Gosta W. Iwasiuk, MD, who wanted to share his love of art and the arts with the students in the school by his house. The generous grant from the Bank of Sierra will provide arts education to 50-60 students and lead them to a greater understanding and appreciation for art by learning about art and creating art and holding an art show. Studies have also shown that in creating art, responding to art, and performing art, youth develop knowledge that is fundamental to the communication necessary in today’s world. Bank of the Sierra has a focus to serve the families and youth of the communities where they have branches with a particular interest in enhancing the educational development of children. The partnership between Bank of The Sierra and Santa Clara Elementary school will help infuse art and culture into the lives of many youth, affirm their value, nurture their skills and talents, help them realize their artistic value, and lead them to a greater understanding and appreciation for art. For this, the families and youth extended that appreciation to Bank of Sierra.