MEMPHIS, Tenn., March 27, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Online voters chose Cleveland State Community College Foundation in southeast Tennessee as the first $5,000 winner in the First Tennessee Foundation's 150 Days of Giving, which celebrates First Tennessee Bank's 150th anniversary. Beginning March 25, the bank's anniversary, and continuing for 150 days, the foundation will give away $5,000 a day to a different nonprofit chosen by online voting. First Tennessee Bank is a subsidiary of First Horizon National Corp. (NYSE:FHN).
"This is a way to give back to the communities we serve," said Bryan Jordan, chairman and CEO of First Horizon. "The support of our customers and communities made our first 150 years possible, so we're saying thanks by continuing our proud tradition of investing in our communities. We know the $750,000 our foundation will award in our 150 Days of Giving will be used to make our communities stronger."
Established in 1993, the First Tennessee Foundation has recently been contributing $5 million a year to support the health and prosperity of local communities. The more than 1,000 organizations that are eligible for the 150 Days of Giving are those the First Tennessee Foundation has supported since 2008 through a direct grant or a matching gift for an employee of First Tennessee Bank or FTN Financial.
Voting is open to the public at www.150DaysOfGiving.com. Participants can vote for up to 10 different nonprofits each day from each device they have, say a smartphone and a laptop. Voting opened March 13, and all votes that are cast will continue to count throughout the 150 Days of Giving, until an organization wins or the 150 Days of Giving ends on Aug. 21. Winners will be posted on the site, and each organization can win only once.
"We're thrilled that the first winner is one of our own," said Mike Griffin, First Tennessee Bank's Cleveland community president. "We hope other organizations here will be challenged to become a winner as well." Cleveland State Community College enrolls about 3,500 for-credit students.
Once the 150 days ends, the First Tennessee Foundation will bring the nonprofit winners together to receive their $5,000 checks at events in the major regions the bank serves. "We share a proud history with the communities we serve," Jordan said, "and we're looking ahead to a bright future together."
About First Tennessee Bank
First Tennessee Bank has the number one market share in Tennessee and one of the highest customer retention rates of any bank in the country. First Tennessee Bank ranked in the top 6 percent of 750 banks in the most recent Greenwich and Associates Excellence in Banking survey. First Tennessee Bank and FTN Financial are part of the First Horizon National Corp. (NYSE:FHN) family of companies. First Horizon's 4,300 employees provide financial services through more than 170 First Tennessee Bank locations in and around Tennessee and in 21 FTN Financial offices in the U.S. and abroad. FTN Financial is a capital markets industry leader in fixed income sales, trading and strategies for institutional clients in the U.S. and abroad. First Horizon has been recognized as one of the nation's best employers by American Banker and Working Mother and a top tech innovator by InformationWeek. More information is available at www.FirstTennessee.com.
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