January 27, 2012
As a constant member of The Scotiabank Bowl for Big Brothers Classic $1,000 Club who consistently places as one of the campaign’s top fundraising individuals, Pollyanna Chow knows fundraising. Given where she works, this is no surprise.
Employed at Scotiabank for 34 years, she has witnessed the bank’s commitment toward community involvement over the past 15 years in particular. In fact, it’s difficult to find a local charity event without Scotibank’s name attached to it. As a major sponsor for Big Brothers’ bowling campaign since 1989, they stepped up as Title Sponsor in 2009, continuing to encourage bank employees to participate.
“When people find out where I work, they say, ‘oh, you’re bank does a lot, eh,’” explains Chow. “It makes me proud to be a Scotiabank employee.”
A loyal employee who works in front line customer service with Lower Mainland developers, Chow feels self-motivated at work but admits the bank’s commitment to social responsibility is an additional driver. While she raised $75 her first year involved in the bowling campaign, she raised a staggering $4,775 in 2011. And if you think that’s amazing, consider that she has raised $27,425 since her first year bowling in 2001.
When asked about her fundraising tips for success, Chow is happy to divulge. Approaching friends and clients and supporting their personal fundraising efforts in return, she believes charity to be a reciprocal effort. She has also embraced the conveniences of technology, heavily utilizing the online pledge raising system.
Still, Chow’s passion for the cause extends beyond Scotiabank’s support. In fact, Chow’s son became a little brother in Edmonton when he was nine years old.
“I was a single mom,” she explains. “There were a lot of sports and activities I simply couldn’t do with Dustin. When Craig came along, Dustin could play hockey instead of just watch it with me on TV.”
Incredibly, Chow’s son and his Big Brother keep in touch periodically to this day. Dustin even attended Craig’s wedding. Chow reflects on her experience with the Big Brothers program as one that eased her mind when she couldn’t devote the time she would have liked. It remains her foremost reason for bowling for Big Brothers to this day.
Helping Big Brothers of Greater Vancouver reach their goal to help 1,051 children in 2012 alone, the bowling campaign is a full circle event for Chow. Her various levels of involvement make it dear to her heart.
“It’s one team, one goal thinking,” Chow comments on Scotiabank and Big Brothers. “Our mind is always one even though we are doing our duties separately.”
Seeing Scotiabank on CTV, as well as various other media throughout Vancouver, she can’t help but feel proud about where she works.
“I feel proud. That’s us.”
