By Monica Stanton 

“You make a living by what you get, you make a life by what you give.”

It’s one of my favorite quotes … and I believe it led me to my involvement with United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania.

At First National Bank (FNB), our leadership team encourages us to be active members of our community. Thinking about that quote, I jumped at the idea to be a part of something bigger than myself and joined United Way’s Games for Good committee back in 2017.

When I got to the event, I realized it was only the beginning.

I immediately noticed how connected everyone was to each other and to the needs of the community. When you hear that an organization “has a finger on the pulse …” this is exactly what that means. And it inspired me to get involved in every way. I joined Bridges Society and became a member of Women United – connecting with a powerhouse network of like-minded, philanthropic individuals who are doing real good in our communities.

In 2020, United Way’s Tools for Schools event was created to provide classroom teachers with the supplies they needed to support their students in the midst of classroom shutdowns. And from day one, FNB has been a supporter.

Watching this event grow into what it is today has been incredible. In the first couple of years, around 25 volunteers from FNB attended. Now we’re close to 100, making up more than 50% of the participants this year.

My favorite part about Tools for Schools? Seeing the massive pallets piled high with school supplies. The number of supplies distributed is just amazing, and the visual impact of seeing it all in one place is truly something to marvel at.

This event is so special because, one, it aligns with our core values of collaboration and teamwork. To see so many volunteers come together for two days and pack 10,000 kits is pretty impressive. And, two, FNB is committed to the communities where we work and live, and Tools for Schools allows our teams to witness and experience that commitment firsthand.

When I think about the impact that this event has had on my FNB family, I’m forever grateful. Working beside my coworkers to assemble the kits together helped me to get to know them even more. But what makes me smile wider is knowing that this event helps thousands of children each year prepare for success in school and life.

When children start school with the supplies they need, they feel empowered, confident and prepared. And thanks to Tools for Schools, parents aren’t worrying about where or how to get school supplies and they’re able to enjoy their children’s smiles on the first day of school.

You make a living by what you get, you make a life – and a difference is so many other lives – by what you give. Thank you to United Way for continuing to teach me that.

To learn more about how to get involved, visit uwswpa.org.

Monica Stanton manages three FNB branches in Downtown Pittsburgh and has volunteered at Tools for Schools since its inception. Thanks to continued support from FNB, United Way is celebrating the fifth annual Tools for Schools event. Each year, Tools for Schools provides 10,000 students grades K-2 across our region with school supplies – nearly 50,000 back-to-school essentials since 2020.