Press Release

Umpqua Bank has teamed with national charity Hats Off for Cancer to collect and donate hats to the courageous children who lose their hair due to cancer treatments. Hats Off for Cancer has donated more than 700,000 brand new hats to hospitals, camps and individuals worldwide since 1996.

Umpqua Bank targeted seven of its branches in retirement centers around the Portland area to participate in this project. The residents at the retirement centers were excited to knit and crochet hats for children and have worked diligently together to create over 500 hats. These were all lovingly placed in individual bags and tagged with a special message from the person who made the hat. Word of the project spread via an Umpqua Bank staff member, to Wood Castle, a small 35 person company out of Albany, OR, who generously donated upwards more than 50 hats. Umpqua Bank was happy to add a generous $1000.00 cash donation.

"Umpqua Bank generously funded some of the yarn for some of the centers and donated $1000.00 in cash and they have committed to another hat drive in 2009. Their slogan is 'The World's greatest Bank' and their efforts prove they are just that, and more!" said Di Barker, Hats Off For Cancer board member.

The retirement center at Mary's Woods at Marylhurst, located at 17400 Holy Names Dr, in Lake Oswego celebrated the holidays on Wednesday, December 10th. They invited Hats Off for Cancer Board Member, Di Barker and Junior Board Member, Tyler Barker, to receive over 500 hats and at the same time meet some of the residents who so graciously gave of their time for such a wonderful cause in time for the holidays. HOFC will pass the hats onto to Regina Ellis, the CEO of the Children's Cancer Association in Portland, OR who will take the hats into the hospitals during their child life support programs.