Fifth Third volunteers help spruce up Warsaw Avenue | Community Spirit

PRICE HILL, OH (FOX19) - If your drive down Warsaw Avenue is looking a little more scenic these days, say thanks to the volunteers from Fifth Third Bank’s Enterprise Risk Management Group. 

On June 26, thirty two hard-working volunteers from the bank gathered to weed, mulch and plant flowers in the tree wells all the way up and down Warsaw Ave.

            Fifth Third has worked for many years with the United Way to help improve the quality of life throughout Greater Cincinnati and, as part of that effort, they created quarterly volunteer projects through a number of their departments.  While their aim is area-wide improvement, they focus on neighborhood-level projects to have a lasting impact – on both the communities they serve and the bank’s volunteers as well.

            “This is a hands-on opportunity to support a community that Fifth Third serves,” said Jeff Gatica, Community Development Program Manager at Fifth Third.  Jeff coordinates the volunteer program.

            Mike Otting, a CRA Reporting Analyst at the bank, put together the Price Hill project.  He grew up in the neighborhood and suggested a project with Price Hill Will based on his knowledge of their work.  “We got a lot of compliments during the work and felt like it was a really worthwhile project,” he said.  “It felt good to do something that was noticed by the residents.”  He was also glad to bring in many employees who were new to the neighborhood.  He said that they were impressed with the improvements they saw and, “some of them are now hooked on St. Lawrence Bakery.”

            “The 5/3 employees were such an amazing group to work with,” said Beth Andriacco, Community Engagement Coordinator at Price Hill Will, who worked with Fifth Third on the project.  “They took their own time, on a very hot day, to come out and help us make an impactful change in the business district.  Mulching tree wells might not seem like a huge or important project, but it is absolutely amazing how quickly the work that they did transformed the way the street looks.”

(Source: Matt Strauss; Price Hill Will)