Seven Northwest Georgia Bank Navigator teams of six raised $3,900 for this year’s Strike for Edu-cation “Rock ‘N’ Bowl” 2009 to benefit Junior Achievement of Chattanooga, held Aug. 23-24 at Holi-day Bowl in Chattanooga.

More than 100 teams raised money for JA this year via the Strike for Education, the non-profit’s largest annual fundraiser, and Northwest won the Battle of the Bank's trophy for raising more money than any other financial institution. Northwest employees Kristy Lyda, a financial services representative at the Hamilton Place branch and Phil Shannon, associate commercial lender/assistant branch manager at the Battlefield Financial Centre served on this year’s Strike for Education planning committee.

Last year, the Bank’s Navigators raised more than $3,600 to help support Junior Achievement of Chattanooga’s important economic education programs in Hamilton, Catoosa, Walker, Marion and Dade counties. Northwest Navigators have raised more than $25,000 this year to benefit more than a dozen different local charities.

History Of Support

Through volunteers, funding and leadership, Northwest Georgia Bank helps Junior Achievement of Chattanooga achieve its mission of providing children with a fundamental understanding of the economics of life.

Northwest Georgia Bank employees began teaching the JA curriculum in Catoosa classrooms in 1993, volunteering annually except for two years. Last spring, the community bank fielded 16 JA instructors in 20 local classrooms, and it expects to field at least 12 in 15 classrooms this semester.

“Junior Achievement supports the idea that a better understanding of economics leads to an im-proved quality of life,” said Northwest president & COO Scott Smith, a JA executive committee member and past-chairman. “That’s a natural fit for any business to support, but especially banks, and we’re honored to help their mission with funding and volunteers."

Northwest Georgia Bank, its foundation and employees have donated or raised almost $30,000 in the last six years for JA of Chattanooga programs.

About JA of Chattanooga

Junior Achievement is Chattanooga and North Georgia’s premier volunteer-driven economic edu-cation non-profit featuring interactive programs that help students learn through personal experi-ence. Junior Achievement is committed to supporting children in grades K-12 by teaching them basic information about economics, the free enterprise system and the benefits of staying in school. JA volunteers and contributors help make these classes real for students by not only giving their financial contribution, but what seems to be more important, their time. Junior Achievement of Chattanooga serves more than 500 classrooms and more than 9,000 area students benefit from the program in 54 local schools. JA worldwide annually reaches approximately 8 million students.

Junior Achievement of Chattanooga is not a United Way-funded agency. JA relies on individual and corporate gifts, grants and special events. All monies raised for Junior Achievement of Chatta-nooga support Hamilton, Catoosa, Walker and Marion County schools. To learn more about Junior Achievement of Chattanooga and how you can become involved in the classroom or with a JA event, visit the website at www.jachattanooga.org.

About Northwest Navigators

Northwest Navigators are Northwest Georgia Bank employees dedicated to improving Chatta-nooga and north Georgia communities through volunteerism, donating thousands of community service hours annually to dozens of area non-profits and often raising money along the way. So far this year, Northwest Navigators have raised and donated almost $25,000 to local non-profits, includ-ing the American Cancer Society, T.C. Thompson Children’s Hospital and St. Jude Children’s Re-search Hospital, among others.

About Northwest Georgia Bank

Still safe, sound and well-capitalized after 105 years serving Chattanooga area families, North-west Georgia Bank remains proud of its reputation for quick, local decision-making, naturally friendly people and genuine devotion to the communities we serve. As Chattanooga’s oldest commu-nity bank, we’ve weathered world wars, the Great Depression and poor economies while learning the lesson of saving money for a rainy day. In fact, the FDIC ranks Northwest Georgia Bank as well-capitalized, its highest ranking, and with sufficient capital to continue to do business in tough times. Economic growth and prosperity will return. How soon depends on us — our steadiness, personal thrift, and faith in each other.