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First Foundation Bank believes that successful support for our communities begins with our employees. This is why we emphasize recognizing the active involvement and commitment of our employees with local nonprofit organizations. One such organization that our employees have been busy helping is Neighborhood Housing Services of the Inland Empire (NHSIE). NHSIE is a non-profit based in San Bernardino, CA that provides programs and support to make the dream of homeownership a reality for underserved populations within the Inland Empire. The organization is dedicated to creating homeownership opportunities, bridging the housing affordability gap, and building sustainable communities of choice – one person, one home, and one neighborhood at a time.

First Foundation was first introduced to Neighborhood Housing Services of the Inland Empire in 2020 through Rheanna Rodriguez, our Director of Specialty Regulations. Rheanna has been an active member of the organization’s board since 2019, as well as also currently serving as the Chair of the Governance Committee. Both the cause and the organization have a strong personal connection for Rheanna, as her own family struggled with homelessness and the multitude of issues that accompany that distressing situation throughout her childhood. Those first-hand experiences gave her the inspiration to make a difference and a meaningful understanding of the importance of what a safe and secure home means for every family. 

First Foundation saw Rheanna’s passionate commitment to the organization and wanted to support her efforts to carry out the impactful work that NHSIE is doing within the community. Building upon Rheanna’s multi-year involvement with the organization, First Foundation began to facilitate a strong partnership with NHSIE starting last year with a community development grant and an additional offer of pro-bono consulting services.  

In conjunction with the grant funding, our Director of Philanthropy Services, Marty Dutch began offering support services for the organization. Marty started to lay the groundwork for her support with a call to the organization’s newly appointed Deputy Director, Kailin Scott. After a positive reception, Marty and Kailin focused the consulting work on conducting strategic planning and building fundraising resources. NHSIE will also rely on Marty’s expertise to assist with their annual board meeting, as well as building an intentional and meaningful plan to close out the year.  

Acknowledging the impact of the partnership, Kailin Scott, Deputy Director remarked, “First Foundation Bank’s ongoing support of our Homebuyer Development Education programs and counseling has been a game changer to help expand our efforts in the community. First Foundation is much more than a financial supporter, as their team of diverse and uniquely specialized staff has provided counsel in areas of lending and donor cultivation. The most important asset to NHSIE has been the service of Rheanna as a dedicated Board Member for the past four years. She led our agency through a difficult executive leadership transition as our Governance Committee chair and served as the Fundraising Committee chair for our first fundraising event post-COVID, raising over $100,000. First Foundation Bank has proven to be a trusted partner and we look forward to future opportunities to impact our communities together.”   

What started as a single employee doing great work has evolved into a community partnership to further the cause of positively impacting families through financial education and supporting programs leading to a path to homeownership.  

First Foundation Bank is grateful to assist Neighborhood Housing Services of the Inland Empire in their mission to make positive change in the communities we serve.  

To learn more about Neighborhood Housing Services of the Inland Empire and the great work they do in the community, visit: http://www.nhsie.org.