Bell Bank Champion Larry Fitzgerald Jr. recently joined the financial institution in Tempe to take 50 kids from locally founded Future Stars, on a $100 shopping spree at Going, Going, Gone. 

Founded in 2008 by Shereka Jackson, the nonprofit Future Stars exists to provide opportunities for inner-city youth to achieve their goals in higher education with a focus on technology, a press release explained.

Each Future Stars child who participated received a $100 shopping spree and a backpack filled with school supplies, courtesy of Bell Bank. The organization also received a $5,000 donation from Dick’s Sporting Goods and Going, Going, Gone.  

Fitzgerald said in the release that he remembers how he felt going back to school, loving the camaraderie with teachers and fellow students. He hopes this shopping spree and new supplies helped motivate the students for the new school year.

“The building blocks of success come through education and we have to stress the importance of that in our communities,” Fitzgerald said. 

He added that Bell Bank has inspired him to do more through his Larry Fitzgerald Foundation. 

“If you look at what Bell Bank stands for, empowering their employees to find people in their own communities that they can help and very similar to what I try to do,” Fitzgerald said.  

He also said in the release that Bell is a great example of a successful organization that hasn’t forgotten its core values, something he says is very commendable.

Future Stars provides STEM education, trainings and mentorship by partnering with the community centers and the community in which they live, the release detailed. The organization supports students with mentoring, financial awareness, training and scholarship searches for school advancement.

Bell Bank Commercial Banking Manager Reine Hamilton said in the release that Future Stars has a core belief that every child is a star and should have the opportunity to be the best version of themselves. 

“It is a powerful organization that is doing so much good in the community and we were truly blessed to be part of this heartwarming afternoon,” Hamilton said. “Having Larry Fitzgerald our Bell Bank Champion on hand to shop with the kids and give them a pep talk made the afternoon even more special.”

As a Bell Bank Champion, Fitzgerald is featured in Bell Bank’s advertising and social media, and provides exclusive experiences for Bell Bank customers and connects with the bank in paying it forward through charitable work in the community, the release explained. 

For more, visit www.bellbank.com.