ABA Banking Journal
No Result
View All Result
  • Topics
    • Ag Banking
    • Commercial Lending
    • Community Banking
    • Compliance and Risk
    • Cybersecurity
    • Economy
    • Human Resources
    • Insurance
    • Legal
    • Mortgage
    • Mutual Funds
    • Payments
    • Policy
    • Retail and Marketing
    • Tax and Accounting
    • Technology
    • Wealth Management
  • Newsbytes
  • Podcasts
  • Magazine
    • Subscribe
    • Advertise
    • Magazine Archive
    • Newsletter Archive
    • Podcast Archive
    • Sponsored Content Archive
SUBSCRIBE
ABA Banking Journal
  • Topics
    • Ag Banking
    • Commercial Lending
    • Community Banking
    • Compliance and Risk
    • Cybersecurity
    • Economy
    • Human Resources
    • Insurance
    • Legal
    • Mortgage
    • Mutual Funds
    • Payments
    • Policy
    • Retail and Marketing
    • Tax and Accounting
    • Technology
    • Wealth Management
  • Newsbytes
  • Podcasts
  • Magazine
    • Subscribe
    • Advertise
    • Magazine Archive
    • Newsletter Archive
    • Podcast Archive
    • Sponsored Content Archive
No Result
View All Result
No Result
View All Result
ADVERTISEMENT
Home Retail and Marketing

Bank Volunteers Rides for Cancer Patients

January 14, 2016
Reading Time: 3 mins read

By Laine Crosby

More than one million people in the United States get cancer each year.

Like many banks, the Inland Bank and Trust, Oak Brook, Ill., wanted to do something to assist in the fight again cancer. But the bank felt that it should do something beyond contributing money to the American Cancer Society.

As a result, the bank launched a volunteer project in which bank employees assist cancer patients who need rides in order to receive chemotherapy. The employees provide rides in their personal vehicles during the weekday—when the need for rides is the greatest.

The bank provides paid leave for participating employees and also reimburses them for mileage.

The effort is connected to the American Cancer Society’s Road to Recovery program. The bank’s program is called Project Purple Roads, and, according to the society, is the first corporate Road to Recovery plan.

The ABA awarded its 2015 ABA Community Commitment Award in the category of “volunteerism” to Inland Bank as a result of the project.

Purple Roads

 The inspiration for the project came when Inland Bank’s CEO Howard Jaffe saw a Super Bowl ad from Chevrolet about helping patients receive assistance on their journey with cancer. He followed up by visiting the American Cancer Society to learn how the bank could serve, beyond a monetary contribution.  The bank partnered with the Society’s Road to Recovery program and Inland Bank’s Project Purpose Roads was started in 2014.

With over 40 active drivers, the bank ensures patients are able to get to their appointments, and the drivers provide a little cheer and good will along the way. Since the Purple Road Program’s inception, the bank has been able to provide hundreds of rides for cancer patients in the counties where the bank serves.

Inland Bank works directly with the American Cancer Society to create, implement and manage this program, and the bank has become more involved with the American Cancer Society as well. Inland Bank CEO Howard Jaffe sits on the board for the American Cancer Society Task Force and also sits on the board for CEOs Against Cancer. The partnership has grown and the bank continues to value and support the American Cancer Society, and volunteer whenever possible.

Resources

The bank offers its employees mileage reimbursement to participate in driving, and pays employees for time taken off during the week when rides are most needed. There is no limit on how many rides employees provide as long as they have management approval.

The American Cancer Society provides background drivers’ checks through the state to ensure drivers are in good standing and are fully insured. The American Cancer Society also holds an hour-long class drivers must pass before participating.

Implementation

The program leaders with Inland Bank are the CEO, corporate secretary and the marketing vice president. This group works with the American Cancer Society to craft the program details and create training materials. The leadership team meets quarterly with the society to review the program and to and discuss improvements. And as of July 2015, the bank began onsite training so more employees can take part in the program.

Scaleable and shareable

This program is economically, environmentally and socially scalable for both the long- and short-term, with other organizations that are interested in a similar program. For example, with the success of the Inland Bank model, other companies such as Motorola have adopted the same program and have even expanded the program to include their company retirees, which helps to broaden the reach for patients in need.

American Cancer Society has been given the bank’s welcome and introduction materials to make starting the program turnkey. This program can easily be adopted by other organizations that care about their communities and making a difference.

(Other banks that might be interested in developing their own Road to Recovery project should contact the American Cancer Society at (800) 227-2345.)

ADVERTISEMENT

Laine Crosby is the editor of ABA Bank Compliance magazine.

Tags: Community bankingVolunteerism
ShareTweetPin

Related Posts

Is deepfake technology shifting the gold standard of authentication?

Will fraud prevention ever be autonomous?

Technology
June 17, 2025

Anti-fraud systems are learning to anticipate fraud rather than merely react to it. Better anticipatory abilities inch systems closer to full automation.

Podcast: Old National’s Jim Ryan on the things that really matter

Podcast: Old National’s Jim Ryan on the things that really matter

ABA Banking Journal Podcast
June 12, 2025

Jim Ryan has led Old National Bank to 250% asset growth. On the podcast, the ABA American Bankers Council chair discusses the bank's growing profile and footprint, his views on deposit insurance reform and the experience of leading...

Bank community engagement: Yes, you can help bank veterans

Bank community engagement: Yes, you can help bank veterans

Retail and Marketing
June 9, 2025

AMBA partners with the ABA Foundation to recruit banks to provide our nation’s veterans access to safe, reliable and flexible financial products and services.

FHFA finalizes strategic plan for 2022-2026

Marketing Money Podcast: Why leadership matters more than likes

Retail and Marketing
June 6, 2025

For bank marketers, the value of being strategic is great.

Looking for trouble?

Podcast: What bankers need to know about ‘First Amendment audits’

ABA Banking Journal Podcast
June 5, 2025

"First Amendment auditors" have long tried to provoke public officials into stopping them from recording in public settings. Now, some auditors are targeting banks.

ABA: Proposed quality control rule for AVMs would overburden banks

Bank survey: Uncertainty weighing on prospective homebuyers

Community Banking
June 4, 2025

Roughly 60% of current homeowners and prospective homebuyers are uncertain whether now is a good time to buy a home, up from 48% two years ago, according to a recent survey by Bank of America.

NEWSBYTES

ABA DataBank: Planned/announced office conversions spike

June 20, 2025

OCC releases mortgage performance report for Q1 2025

June 20, 2025

Justice Department seizes millions of dollars linked to alleged crypto investment scams

June 20, 2025

SPONSORED CONTENT

AI Compliance and Regulation: What Financial Institutions Need to Know

Unlocking Deposit Growth: How Financial Institutions Can Activate Data for Precision Cross-Sell

June 1, 2025
Choosing the Right Account Opening Platform: 10 Key Considerations for Long-Term Success

Choosing the Right Account Opening Platform: 10 Key Considerations for Long-Term Success

April 25, 2025
Outsourcing: Getting to Go/No-Go

Outsourcing: Getting to Go/No-Go

April 5, 2025
Six Payments Trends Driving the Future of Transactions

Six Payments Trends Driving the Future of Transactions

March 15, 2025

PODCASTS

Podcast: Staying close to clients amid tariff-driven volatility

June 18, 2025

Podcast: Old National’s Jim Ryan on the things that really matter

June 12, 2025

Podcast: What bankers need to know about ‘First Amendment audits’

June 5, 2025
ADVERTISEMENT

American Bankers Association
1333 New Hampshire Ave NW
Washington, DC 20036
1-800-BANKERS (800-226-5377)
www.aba.com
About ABA
Privacy Policy
Contact ABA

ABA Banking Journal
About ABA Banking Journal
Media Kit
Advertising
Subscribe

© 2025 American Bankers Association. All rights reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Topics
    • Ag Banking
    • Commercial Lending
    • Community Banking
    • Compliance and Risk
    • Cybersecurity
    • Economy
    • Human Resources
    • Insurance
    • Legal
    • Mortgage
    • Mutual Funds
    • Payments
    • Policy
    • Retail and Marketing
    • Tax and Accounting
    • Technology
    • Wealth Management
  • Newsbytes
  • Podcasts
  • Magazine
    • Subscribe
    • Advertise
    • Magazine Archive
    • Newsletter Archive
    • Podcast Archive
    • Sponsored Content Archive

© 2025 American Bankers Association. All rights reserved.