COLUMBUS, Ind. – First Financial Bank (Nasdaq: FFBC) and the First Financial Foundation have awarded a total of $31,500 in grants to six organizations in Columbus, as a further extension of its ongoing commitment to support growth for the people and neighborhoods it serves. In Columbus, First Financial provided grants to Children, Inc., Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation, Family School Partners, Foundation for Youth of Bartholomew County, kidscommons Columbus Community Children’s Museum and Su Casa Columbus.
“Supporting our clients and communities has always reflected who we are as a bank,” said Roddell McCullough, chief corporate responsibility officer for First Financial. “Every year of our annual grant campaign brings us new optimism around the positive impacts we’re delivering through our local partners.”
For the entire 2025 campaign, total funding includes $550,000 for 96 organizations throughout the Midwest, making this the largest grant campaign in First Financial’s history. First Financial grants focus on supporting neighborhood development, workforce development and education, and culture in the arts, and they emphasize providing support to low-income communities.
To deliver assistance to more people through this grant campaign, First Financial added funding for the campaign from CREA, a low-income housing tax credit organization.
“The Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation is committed to launching and growing businesses in the Southern Indiana region,” said Cindy Frey, Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation president. ”With an investment from First Financial in partnership with CREA, the Catalyst 100 Project will pair young companies with seasoned mentors and technical service providers to accelerate business growth.”
