LUBBOCK, Texas - October 21, 2015

City Bank’s Community Rewards begins its eighth year next week, and there are several exciting changes to the program that will expand both the money available to local nonprofit agencies and the number of agencies that will share in those “Rewards.”

The total amount of “Rewards” has been increased from $50,000 to $60,000 in 2015, and there now will be 18 winners instead of 10 as City Bank continues its goal of assisting our nonprofits in carrying out their missions of hope and service to people in need throughout our city and surrounding area.

In its first seven years, Community Rewards has contributed $360,000 to some 65 different nonprofits.

“What we do is a tiny drop in the bucket to the incredible and never-ending services provided by these agencies, their staffs and volunteers,” said Cory T. Newsom, City Bank’s President and CEO. “The demands on these nonprofits grows every year, and we are excited to grow our program as well because it helps them. They all are difference-makers, and we feel truly blessed to help them in this small way.”

Lubbock and area residents again will determine the Reward recipients by voting for their favorite charity online at citybankonline.com. For the first time, votes will be tallied in six categories: Basic Human Needs, Health & Wellness, Child Development & Advocacy, Education & Youth Services, Community Development & Leadership, and Animal Welfare & Environment. There will be first-, second- and third-place winners in each category, receiving $5,000, $2,500 and $1,000 respectively. The top overall vote-getter will receive an additional $5,000.

 Voting will begin Sunday, Nov. 1, and continue through Sunday, Dec. 13. The rules state one vote per email address per day. Voters also must be 18 or older. Voting will be updated regularly and the top 5 in each category will be listed at citybankonline.com.  Winners will be announced the week before Christmas.