Bremer Employees Contribute More Than 92,000 Volunteer Hours in 2007
St. Paul, Minn. – January 7, 2008 – Bremer Financial and Bremer Bank employees contributed 92,963 volunteer hours to their communities throughout Minnesota, North Dakota and Wisconsin in 2007. In total, the company's approximately 1,880 employees logged volunteer hours that were the equivalent of $1.7 million dollars, according to the Independent Sector, which values an hour of volunteer time at $18.77.
The 2007 total volunteer hours represent the largest volunteer contribution ever tallied by Bremer. The volunteer contributions are in addition to the more than $30 million in direct financial contributions that the company and its Foundation made in 2007.
“Our employees are generous with their time in a variety of different capacities in our communities,” said Stan Dardis, chief executive officer at Bremer. “This clearly exemplifies the commitment to communities championed by our founder Otto Bremer. I am so proud to work with such a dedicated and caring group of individuals.”
Bremer Financial was founded in 1943 by Otto Bremer. The company is owned by its employees and the Otto Bremer Foundation, the only ownership structure of its kind in the nation. Company profits are distributed back to the communities served by Bremer in Minnesota, North Dakota and Wisconsin in the form of charitable grants from the Otto Bremer Foundation.
In addition to the volunteer hours, more than 33 percent of Bremer employees serve in leadership roles in nonprofit organizations. This is the third year the company has conducted the survey tracking employees' volunteer activities.
Bremer Financial Corporation
Bremer Financial Corporation is a privately-held, $7.0 billion regional financial services company jointly owned by its employees and the Otto Bremer Foundation. This unique ownership structure is the only one of its kind in the nation. Founded in 1943 by Otto Bremer, the company is headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota and provides a comprehensive range of banking, investment, trust and insurance services to more than 100 locations in Minnesota, North Dakota and Wisconsin. Company profits are distributed in the form of charitable grants by the Otto Bremer Foundation to communities served by Bremer. In 2007, more than $30 million in charitable donations were given across the Bremer footprint and employees donated more than 92,900 volunteer hours to their communities.