FirstBank donates $250K to help southwestern P.R. residents

Financial institution FirstBank has established a $250,000 relief fund to support the recovery of communities in the southwest area that were affected by the recent earthquakes. During the first phase of the effort, the bank partnered with five nonprofit organizations that are offering services to families with pressing needs, namely: Centro de Microempresas y Tecnologías Agrícolas Sustentables (CMTAS); American Red Cross Puerto Rico Chapter,; One Stop Career Center of Puerto Rico Inc.; Ponce Neighborhood Housing Services Inc.; and the Salvation Army. “Right now, we stand in solidarity with the residents and our employees who live in the towns of Guánica, Guayanilla, Peñuelas, Ponce, Utuado and Yauco,” said FirstBank President Aurelio Alemán. “Our interest is to contribute items needed immediately and help relocate families to safe homes to minimize health problems,” he said. “We have also involved our staff with volunteer hours with organizations that are serving people in shelters.”