Sharing the Spark of Financial Literacy

This month, we are proud to recognize Sal Sifuentes, Branch Manager of our Westwood office, as First Foundation Bank’s Volunteer of the Month. Though Sal joined our team just seven months ago, he brings with him 28 years of banking experience – and a lifelong passion for giving back.

For the past 20 years, Sal has dedicated his time to volunteering across all ages, from youth to seniors. But it’s working with students through Junior Achievement that has truly captured his heart.

“I love to see the sparking in the students’ eyes when educating them about budgeting and finances,” Sal Shared. “The students are the future of this country. Being able to contribute to their future makes me want to continue to volunteer.”

Recently, Sal sent the day with students from Hollenbeck Middle School, teaching them the budgeting basics and helping them understand what making decisions in adulthood can look like. Their curiosity and humor made the experience memorable for Sal – but it was the heartfelt thank you notes he received from the students that left a lasting impression.

One student wrote, “Sal, I would like to thank you for assisting me on the junior achievement center field trip. You made everything as fun and engaging as you could have and I'm entirely grateful for it. Despite only being an adult for a day, the experience was truly eye opening and made me realize that I should enjoy my time in my youth and I should prioritize my education as well as the amount of fun I have.”

Another wrote, “Dear Sal, thank you for teaching us how to manage our money while also making it fun and making us laugh. I really enjoyed the experience with you as our volunteer and I'm thankful that now I got to learn what it's like to be an adult and how hard it is to pay for all of the things that we need to stay stable, while also having extra money to get the things we want. “

It really doesn’t get any better than personalized thank you notes!

In honor of Sal’s commitment to community service, First Foundation Bank is donating $100 to Junior Achievement of Southern California on his behalf. Thank you, Sal, for inspiring future generations and helping build a stronger, more financially confident community.