In celebration of its 80th anniversary, Bremer Bank today announced a donation of $10,000 to the Eau Claire nonprofit organization, Eau Claire Area Hmong Mutual Assistance Association, Inc. (ECAHMAA). The donation is one of eight total that Bremer is making to nonprofits that embody the bank’s three philanthropic pillars of economic empowerment, affordable housing and financial education across its footprint of Minnesota, western Wisconsin and North Dakota.
“Wisconsin has been an important, longstanding part of our eight-decade story,” said Bremer Bank President and CEO Jeanne Crain. “ECAHMAA does critical work in this community, and we are honored for the opportunity to support them through this donation as we further Bremer’s 80-year legacy, established by our founder Otto Bremer, of cultivating thriving communities.”
German immigrant Otto Bremer founded Bremer Bank in St. Paul, Minnesota, guided by his belief that if banks helped businesses in both the good times and the bad, then communities could thrive. Eighty years later, Otto’s legacy of cultivating thriving communities lives on through Bremer’s customers and employees, who help grow our region’s food, build our region’s economies and serve our region’s neighbors. Click here to watch a video about Bremer Bank’s deep commitment to the many communities it serves.
The Eau Claire Area Hmong Mutual Assistance Association, Inc. is a community-driven nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people, advancing cultures and enhancing the quality of life for Chippewa Valley communities by promoting relationships of trust, safety and a sense of belonging. Its primary focus is to provide a wide range of culturally relevant services and resources to meet the unique needs of the community. Their efforts encompass areas such as advocacy work in domestic violence, sexual assault, victims of crime, youth, elders, and gender justice to affordable housing, food pantry, interpretation/translation, mental health, and cultural preservation. Bremer’s donation will support ECAHMAA’s community support events, staff development and culture preservation and help fill gaps in program needs.
“Bremer has been an amazing ally to ECAHMAA, standing by us with support. Whether it’s supporting our events or offering guidance during inquiries, they always come through. The staff goes the extra mile to make you feel welcome and valued by knowing you on a personal level. When I walk in the bank, they greet me by name and I know their names!” said True Vue, executive director at the Eau Claire Area Hmong Mutual Assistance Association.