NEWS RELEASE
November 30, 2021
Christine Robertson, Executive Director
(805) 549-1300 

American Riviera Bank Pledges $5,000 Annual Sponsorship to 
Promote Equity & Innovation in Local Schools 

SAN LUIS OBISPO -- The San Luis Coastal Education Foundation (SLCEF) announced today a $5,000 annual sponsorship gift from American Riviera Bank to support the iINNOVATE Initiative, a multi-year program to increase access to 21st century hands-on learning at all 10 district elementary schools.

“American Riviera is thrilled to support the San Luis Coastal Education Foundation as they help shape and grow future leaders of our community,” said Steven Harding, American Riviera Bank’s Executive Vice President & Regional President.  “We applaud the foundation’s efforts of innovation, inclusion, empowerment and engagement – especially during such a challenging time.”

A Foundation-championed initiative jointly designed by the Foundation and school district, iINNOVATE seeks to connect student learning to the real world, equipping kids with the skills necessary to succeed in a changing global economy.

Our goal is to help prepare students to be life-long learners. Through hands-on 21st century learning, students are able to celebrate the journey of trial and error along the path to discovery and understanding.  Innovation labs offer engaging learning environments that cultivate curiosity and empower kids to actively explore real world challenges.

“It means a lot to us that American Riviera Bank has stepped up as our first sustaining sponsor for the iINNOVATE Initiative,” said Christine Robertson, SLCEF Executive Director. “Their team has deep roots in our community and local schools, and genuinely cares about helping the next generation succeed. We are grateful for their partnership which will allow us to support high quality learning experiences for years to come.” 

The iINNOVATE Initiative was launched in 2020 by a $1.1 million partnership gift from the Harold J. Miossi Charitable Trust. For more information, visit https://www.slcef.org/innovate. 

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American Riviera Bank is a full-service community bank focused on serving the lending and deposit needs of businesses and consumers on the Central Coast of California. The state-chartered bank opened for business on July 18, 2006, with the support of local shareholders. Full-service branches are located in Santa Barbara, Montecito, Goleta, San Luis Obispo and Paso Robles. The Bank provides commercial, residential mortgage, construction and Small Business Administration lending services as well as convenient online and mobile technology.  For eleven consecutive years the Bank has been recognized for strong financial performance by the Findley Reports, and has received the highest “Super Premier” rating from Findley every year since 2016.  The Bank was rated “Outstanding” by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation in 2020 for its performance under the Community Reinvestment Act.