Bremer Employees Donate More Than 100,000 Volunteer Hours in 2008
St. Paul, Minn. - January 12, 2009 -Bremer employees increased the average number of volunteer hours per employee by 15 percent in 2008, netting 107,148 volunteer hours for their communities throughout Minnesota, North Dakota and Wisconsin in 2008. In total, the company’s approximately 1,880 employees logged volunteer hours that were the equivalent of $2.1 million dollars, according to the Independent Sector, which values an hour of volunteer time at $19.51.
The 2008 total volunteer hours represent the largest volunteer contribution ever tallied by Bremer, topping the 92,963 volunteer hours recorded in 2007. The volunteer contributions are in addition to the more than $30 million in direct financial contributions that the company and the Otto Bremer Foundation made to nonprofit organizations in 2008.
In addition to the general volunteer hours, more than 37 percent of employees serve in various leadership roles for nonprofit organizations. This is the fourth year the company has conducted the survey tracking employees’ volunteer activities.
“Our founder Otto Bremer said, ‘to serve our clients, we must also serve our communities,’” said Stan Dardis, chief executive officer of Bremer. “I’m so proud that after 65 years, our employees continue to carry out Otto’s vision for his bank holding company. The commitment to our communities that our employees demonstrate on a yearly basis is truly something special. I commend their passion, dedication and spirit.”
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.
Bremer Financial Corporation
Bremer Financial Corporation is a privately-held, $7.6 billion regional financial services company jointly owned by its employees and the Otto Bremer Foundation (OBF). 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. OBF uses its share of dividends to distribute charitable grants to Bremer bank communities. For more information, go to bremer.com.