Rain couldn’t dampen the spirits or the generous hearts of American Riviera Bank employees on November 14, as our Santa Barbara Branch parking lot transformed into a scene of laughter, camaraderie, and yes – flying pies. Our inaugural “Pies with a Purpose” fundraiser brought together team members from across departments in our Santa Barbara locations, all united by a commitment to community giving and a willingness to take a pie to the face for a good cause.
At ARB, we believe community banking goes beyond financial services – it means rolling up our sleeves (and sometimes wiping whipped cream from our faces) to make a meaningful difference in the communities we serve. The event raised an impressive $1,780 in employee donations, which American Riviera Bank proudly matched for a total contribution of $3,560 to support three local nonprofit organizations (Unity Shoppe, LEAP, and ECHO) this Thanksgiving season.
“The enthusiasm our team showed for this charitable event speaks volumes about the culture we’ve built,” shared Yatzie Acosta, Human Resources Manager. “Even in the rain, everyone came together with incredible energy and generosity.”
One of the day’s highlights was seeing our executive team fully embrace the spirit of the event. For a $25 donation, employees could target a specific executive with a pie, or for the premium price of $100, brave donors could launch pies at all six executives in succession.
Leadership at ARB isn’t afraid to get a little messy for a good cause either. In a particularly memorable moment, our own President and CEO, Jeff DeVine, joined in the fun by purchasing opportunities to pie his fellow executives.
The camaraderie extended beyond the executive suite. A dedicated team of loan officers as well as the Human Resources department jumped into the action with enthusiasm.
At just $10 per pie for regular staff members, participation was accessible to everyone, and departments stood in solidarity as their team members pummeled them with cream.
If there was a “People’s Choice” award at our fundraiser, it would undoubtedly go to Alex Torres, Credit Assistant Supervisor, who good-naturedly endured more pies to the face than any other participant. His popularity as a target seemed to grow with each splat of whipped cream!
Colleagues lined up with their donations for a chance to pie Alex, whose laughter and team spirit kept them coming back for more. Following close behind Alex as pie target extraordinaire was Brandin Vallin, Banking Relationship Officer.
As American Riviera Bank continues to expand our Central Coast footprint, recently announcing an expansion into Ventura County, our dedication to fostering strong communities grows even stronger. We’re already looking forward to next year’s event, with team members suggesting creative new twists to make an even bigger impact for our community partners.
American Riviera Bank is committed to supporting the communities we serve through sponsorships, charitable giving, and volunteerism. To learn more about our community programs or banking services, please visit our website or contact your local branch.
Previous: Best Banks to Work For 2025