Fifth Third Bank
Heidi Jark Shares Inspiration
Heidi Jark, senior vice president and managing director of The Foundation Office at Fifth Third Bank, has long been someone I have admired.
A 2013 YWCA Career Women of Achievement Honoree, Heidi has learned some mammoth lessons about life and the strength of her will from her own personal 
experiences. Growing up on a farm, and having been raised by loving, hard-working parents, gave her an early solid foundation. That, and a diagnosis of cancer at the young age of 19, gave Heidi a deep inner purpose and drive for building good and philanthropy. In her role at Fifth Third, she oversees investments from the bank’s own foundation, more than 20 other trustee foundations, and private family foundations. She and her husband, Steve Kenat, are active in the community. Among Heidi’s list of engagement, she has served on the United Way Leadership Cabinet, and is a past board member of the YWCA of Greater Cincinnati.
Please learn more about Heidi below.
GTGA: You grew up on a farm in South Dakota. How did your early experiences help to shape who you are today?
Heidi: Growing up on a farm definitely had an impact on the person that I am today. I didn’t necessarily appreciate or know the true impact until I was older, but those experiences have imprinted on several things in my life. First and foremost, it taught me the value of hard work and how work can bring great joy and be essential to your wellbeing. My Dad was always “working”, whether it was in the field, at his desk, or even doing carpentry in the winter months. He’s an amazingly happy person and takes great pride in his accomplishments, even today at the young age of 88. His greatest words of wisdom to me were to find something that I loved to do with my life and I would never do a day of work. Dad was definitely right about that! Secondly, working on the farm taught me the value of humor. That seems like an odd thing to say, but there was plenty to laugh about when things were good and when things went the wrong way. My parents had a great sense of humor and even work had its fun side. Whether it was gatherings via snowmobiles to the river bottom to ice skate and roast hot dogs on a moonlit winter’s night (one of my favorite memories) or impromptu family get togethers with tons of homemade food, laughter was always present in our lives. Farming wasn’t all about work. It was about community, spending quality time together, and having some of the best laughs I’ve ever had in my life. We had fabulous adventures on and off of the farm and it’s something I value and try to practice as much as I can. Finally, it taught me to appreciate the earth and all of its beauty. I still crave wide open spaces and look forward to those trips each year when I can get back to South Dakota, breathe the fresh air, and get my hands dirty.
GTGA: You were diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. What are some life lessons learned from your experience?
Heidi: I was diagnosed a month before my 20th birthday and it was a shocker. You never want to hear the words, “you have cancer”, no matter the age. I was so fortunate to have made my way to Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota and to have parents who figured out a way for me to stay there for 4 months of treatment. I spent a lot of that time on my own, as it was planting season and my parents needed to be back home on the farm. I learned to be fiercely independent and to take charge of my health. I also learned to listen to my body and to let it rest when it needed a break. I also had time to think about who I was and who I wanted to be. I also learned that I can’t let fear of the unknown get the best of me or keep me from moving forward. I came out of the experience stronger and wiser than my years. I also made a list of the things I would do in my life if I got a second chance and it’s something I still try to follow every day. I didn’t know it at the time, but it’s great to get the midlife crisis out of the way much earlier than your friends.
GTGA: Who is someone who has impacted your life in a positive way and how?
Heidi: It’s hard to pick just one person, so I’m going to have to go with the 2 most important women in my life: my Mom and my oldest sister Becky. I was different from the other kids in our farming community, and my family recognized that at an early age. They embraced my differences and always made sure that I had support so that I could be whoever I wanted to be. My Mom was a school teacher and a very strong independent woman that you didn’t mess with, and she was my crusader and #1 supporter. Her words of wisdom live with me every day and I miss her terribly. We talked every day until her health deteriorated and she was unable to have a conversation with me. She’s in heaven looking over me now and I hear her voice in my head at least once every day. Becky is definitely like Mom and the two of us bear a striking resemblance to Mom in our looks, mannerisms, language, and even in our style of dress. She’s been my best friend and confidant for as long as I can remember. Becky lives out West and we only see each other a few times a year, but we talk on the telephone constantly. I know who to call if I need to laugh or cry.
GTGA: What are some of your simple pleasures in life?
Heidi: Reading, gardening, singing and playing the piano bring me great joy. I also love to cook and bake – that’s the farm girl in me coming out!
GTGA: When you think about the word ‘philanthropy’, what does that mean to you?
Heidi: Generosity always comes to mind when I think about philanthropy. The act of giving to me is the most beautiful part of humankind. When someone gives of their time or treasures, it’s truly a gift of heart and spirit. A farming community is one of the best places to learn the meaning of giving and how to care for each other. Little did I know that growing up on the farm would lead me to “work” that I love.
GTGA: What advice do you have to young people about living life?
Heidi: My advice is to live life to the fullest and to never have regrets. As a cancer survivor, every day is a good day because I’m alive. Even on the worst days, they are still better than the alternative. Dream big and surround yourself with positive people who can support you in the good times and the bad. Most of all, you need to believe in and take care of yourself. And, as my mother always reminded me, “If you’re going to kick some butt, make sure you wear some awesome shoes!”
Fifth Third Bank Honored For Hiring People With Disabilities
Sending a well deserved congratulations to Fifth Third Bank, and its employees.
It was recently recognized recognized by Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) as a Champion of Opportunityfor the bank’s commitment and leadership in integrating individuals with disabilities into Ohio’s workforce.
“Fifth Third understands that integrating individuals with disabilities into their workforce is good for the community, the company and good for business,” said OOD Executive Director Kevin L. Miller. “Inclusion and engagement is more than just a policy on paper, it is an active part of the culture and management at Fifth Third.”
The Champion of Opportunity Award honors companies that have gone “above and beyond” in their commitment and who serve as statewide examples of what it means to provide quality employment opportunities and increased independence for individuals with disabilities.
“Being awarded the Champion of Opportunity Award is a significant honor for our Company,” said Teresa Tanner, executive vice president & Chief Human Resource Officer at Fifth Third Bank. “This recognition is due, in large part, with our role as an original collaborator on Project SEARCH, a school-to-work internship program for students with developmental and physical disabilities. We operate three Project SEARCH campuses today and are honored to help our students find meaningful careers. We’re especially proud of the many Project SEARCH graduates that are now members of our Fifth Third employee family.”
The Opportunity Awards were created to highlight Ohio companies committed to providing employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities. For more information and a listing of the 2014 award winners please visit http://www.ood.ohio.gov/Employers/Opportunity-Awards.
OOD is committed to engaging and educating Ohio businesses on the benefits of recruiting, hiring and retaining individuals with disabilities. Its business relations model works directly with Ohio companies to understand their workforce needs, quickly match job seekers with specific openings, and provide needed assistance and training.
Fifth Third Bank Raising Money For Cancer Research
Fifth Third Bank has raised $534,000 for Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C), an intiative to accelerate important research into the disease that affects millions every year. And they are not stopping. One person, one customer, one story at a time they are making an impact.
How are they doing it? They have been encouraging people to upload photos of someone affected by cancer (in loving memory or in honor of a survivor) with the hashtag #PayToTheOrderOf to Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or Vine; or through their website. And, for each eligible upload, the Fifth Third is donating $1 to Stand Up 2 Cancer. Click here for full terms and conditions
Also, for each new Fifth Third customer who opens a checking account with direct deposit and makes three online bill payments, the bank will give $150 to the customer and donate $150 to SU2C. For additional information about the campaign and full details about this bonus offer, visit 53.com/SU2C or give me call.
About Stand up To Cancer:
In May 2009, SU2C launched its first five scientific Dream Teams. Today, ten teams of some of the brightest scientists are hard at work, driven by the same principles that laid the foundation of the Stand Up To Cancer model: collaboration, innovation, acceleration, targeted therapy, and translational research. Leaders from across disciplines, institutions, and specialties are competing against cancer instead of each other, as research moves from bench to bedside to benefit patients more quickly. Each team in its 
own way is changing the face of cancer research and pushing the dream of ending cancer closer to reality.
Stand Up To Cancer With Your Fifth Third MasterCard
Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) is a groundbreaking initiative created to accelerate innovative cancer research that will get new therapies to patients quickly and save lives now.
In May 2009, SU2C launched its first five scientific Dream Teams. Today, ten teams of some of the brightest scientists are hard at work, driven by the same principles that laid the foundation of the Stand Up To Cancer model: collaboration, innovation, acceleration, targeted therapy, and translational research. Leaders from across disciplines, institutions, and specialties are competing against cancer instead of each other, as research moves from bench to bedside to benefit patients more quickly. Each team in its own way is changing the face of cancer research and pushing the dream of ending cancer closer to reality.
And now through the end of December, Fifth Third is making a $0.01 donation up to $400,000 to the cause for every qualifying purchase made using any Fifth Third MasterCard.
Beech Acres Receives Grant To Provide Critical Support For Families In Crisis
The Jacob G. Schmidlapp Trusts, Fifth Third Bank, Trustee, has just awarded Beech Acres Parenting Center a $25,000 grant toward its newly created Family Emergency Support Fund. The Fund enables Beech Acres to offer urgent financial support for basic material needs and customized, mental and behavioral health services for vulnerable families who are in crisis due to economic hardships.
This grant comes at a critically important time for Greater Cincinnati families as the economy causes an increasing number of parents to be unemployed or underemployed add huge additional stress factors to families. Currently 75% of Beech Acres clients are seeking supportive services and do not have the means to pay even a nominal fee for assistance they desperately need. Over 20% have three or more children.
“We’re finding that families facing economic hardships find it hard to even seek out mental health or family support because they cannot meet even basic material needs,” said Dr. Patrick Nugent, Beech Acres Parenting Center vice president for development. “They cannot focus on improving their family functioning because they are about to be evicted, or heat or electricity have been turned off, or a newborn baby lacks a crib. They may not even be able to keep therapy appointments because they cannot afford a bus token. Public funding does not cover these costs, so our Family Emergency Support Fund vital to the well being of the family.”
Beech Acres Parenting Center supports parents and caregivers in the most challenging and important job of their lives: raising children today who are able to thrive tomorrow. With a mission of Strengthening Families for Children, Beech Acres provided over 17,000 services for children, parents and educators across greater Cincinnati last year in homes, schools and in the community to strengthen parenting and relationship capabilities. For more information, please visit www.beechacres.org.
Anchored by Beech Acres’ Parent Connections Department, Family Emergency Support Fund services will include:
- Basic Material Needs: Financial assistance with emergency needs: transportation, utilities, food, child safety equipment, diapers, and other needs that prevent a family from working on social, emotional, and behavioral challenges.
- Parent Connections: A Beech Acres Parent Liaison will conduct an initial assessment, consult with parents and determine which services best address their needs. Based on their findings, they will be enrolled in one or more of the services listed below. If necessary, families will also be referred to other organizations or services providers to meet their needs i.e. the Freestore Foodbank for food.
- Consultation and Coaching: Parents, and sometimes the entire family, will participate in face-to-face meetings with a trained consultant or coach as a more focused and affordable alternative to family therapy. The sessions are customized to the needs of each family and address the specific challenges the parents, couples and/or children are facing. Together, they examine barriers and explore practical solutions. On average, consultation services are offered for 2-3 sessions for a total of approximately 2-4 hours.
- Mediation Services: Divorcing couples, married couples under stress, or families will be brought together with a mediator to improve communication and resolve conflicts. On average, mediation services are offered for 2-3 sessions for a total of approximately 2-4 hours.
- Individual Crisis Intervention Services: This service is a solution-focused means to help children and parents resolve a particular crisis. On average, crisis intervention services are provided through 1-2 sessions for approximately 2-3 hours.
- Parent Peer Support: Beech Acres pairs parents and families with trained parent peer coaches who have successfully overcome similar challenges in their own lives. Peer coaches will assist them in responding to their specific needs. Hours of support vary based on the needs of the family.
