BOUNTIFUL—Students from Bolton Elementary brought a bit of Christmas magic to Zions Bank last week when they trimmed the tree in the lobby with homemade decorations and then turned on the lights to kick off the holiday season. The school has been taking part in the tradition for the last several years.

“This tree-trimming tradition began at Zions Bank 50 years ago,” said Kallee Feuz, Assistant Vice President, Communications for Zions Bank. “It was developed by the late Doris Taggart, a Zions Bank employee and former Davis County resident. She developed a plan to invite elementary students to make ornaments for the Christmas trees in the lobbies of branches across Zions Bank’s footprint.”

Students were asked to make these ornaments from recyclable materials, she said. “At the time, Zions made a donation of 25 cents per ornament from the school. Tens of thousands of Utah and Idaho students have participated in Zions Bank’s “Lights On” tree-trimming tradition over the decades.”

This year Zions Bank has over 4,800 students from more than 80 elementary schools in Utah and Idaho participating, said Feuz. “In addition, a number of Zions Bank branches have invited students from special-needs classes and Title 1 schools to decorate the trees in their lobbies.”

The bank branches reach out to local schools to take part, she said. “It keeps the bank connected to the community. It’s exciting to see the creativity of the schools.”

Zions donates $100 to the school, said Feuz. “They can buy supplies for the ornaments. We leave it up to the school what they’d like to make, like using recyclable materials. Some are themed like a subject they’re learning in school with countries around the world. It’s fun to see the creativity of the local schools and see what they’ve come up with.”

The bank has an interest in education, she said. “We’ve provided long standing support for schools. We have educational programs like Get Smart About Credit Day and Teach Children to Save Day. We go into schools to teach children financial concepts. It’s another way we help support schools.”

Zions also does Pays for As, said Feuz. “Teens between 12-18 can bring in their report cards to the branch and get paid $1 for each A on their report card.”

Kids who decorated the tree are members of the school’s student council. “I like making ornaments to spread holiday cheer,” said sixth grader Stacie Meza. “We had a fun, great time. I like being in the student council because we can be role models with something like that.”

“We’re raising money to buy stuffed animals for kids in foster care,” said Packer Jackson, who is also in sixth grade. “It’s the season of giving so I like helping people out.”

 “I am so proud of the student council kids for their eagerness to help others,” Kirsten McNeal, Boulton Elementary School student council advisor. “The money that Zions bank is donating to our group will be used to purchase stuffed animals for the children in our community who are taken into foster care. We work with several wonderful organizations and they all say that every child appreciates having a soft animal to comfort them. We are honored to be able to help and so grateful to Zion’s Bank for enabling us to do so each year!” 

“We feel like the schools are giving just as much to us as we are giving to them, Feuz said. “The staff, community and bank clients enjoy the handcrafted ornaments that are on display through the holiday season. They’re bringing the holiday spirit to us during this season.”