Synovus Announces 2Q Here Matters Award Winner
Here's to our internal 2Q Here Matters award winner, Retail Market Manager Susan Taylor! Each quarter, we recognize a Synovus team member with an extraordinary community outreach story. We're proud to recognize Susan for her dedication and contributions to the Prattville community. In addition to driving participation in corporate and market outreach projects, Susan is a passionate volunteer with the local YMCA's Field of Dreams nonprofit and a recent graduate of the Leadership Autauga County program.
From March through May 2021, Susan coached a Synovus-sponsored Field of Dreams softball team – the Sluggers. Founded in 2015 and based at the Prattville YMCA, Field of Dreams is a nonprofit working to remove barriers that keep children and adults with mental and physical disabilities out of traditional sports leagues. Field of Dreams enables participants to experience the joys of America’s favorite pastime and other sports as they play on a custom-designed turf field that accommodates wheelchairs and other assistive devices.
Susan coached 10 games with the Sluggers, helping participants make new friends, build self-esteem, learn independence, and enjoy being part of a team. After the season, Susan decided to add kickball to her coaching repertoire and continues to make positive impacts on the Sluggers, other Field of Dreams players, parents, and volunteers.
"Susan is very involved in the Prattville community, and her participation with Field of Dreams is especially near to my heart as I have a grandchild with special needs," said Retail Market Leader Bob Van Alst. "Susan's outreach efforts show great leadership, and we greatly appreciate everything she does!"
As part of the 2019-2020 Leadership Autauga County class, Susan helped raise funds for the Autauga County Interfaith Care Center (AICC), an effort by Autauga County churches and service agencies to meet the physical and spiritual needs of individuals and families facing urgent situations. Leadership Autauga County is a nine-session program designed to build, enhance, and mold leadership skills within Autauga County. The program works to cultivate leaders who are concerned about the future of the county, and each leadership class chooses a service project as the focal point of their efforts. Thanks to Susan's class, AICC was able to complete several updates at the organization's headquarters, including the creation of a new laundry room and clothes closet workroom.
"Susan is a great role model in the Montgomery market, always going out of her way to make sure the entire area is invited to participate in Prattville outreach projects," said Commercial Assistant and Montgomery/Walton Here Matters Champion Holly Carter. "Susan supports every single market initiative – every time!"
As the winner of our 2Q Here Matters award, Synovus will donate $500 to a charity of Susan's choice. In addition, Susan will be considered for our 2021 William B. Turner Community Impact Award for outstanding philanthropic contributions or hands-on community service.
Here’s to Susan and her commitment to making a difference in the Montgomery market and Prattville community!
About Here Matters
At Synovus, we express our commitment to communities through Here Matters, our community outreach program. Here Matters builds on a century-plus legacy of service to local communities as the bank of here, focusing volunteer and financial contributions in three areas: education, needs-based opportunities, and health and wellness. Synovus team members demonstrate Here Matters through footprint-wide projects in the spring and fall — and through rapid response to event-driven needs. Learn more about our Here Matters community outreach efforts at synovus.com/about-us/community-outreach.