The Giving Branch

Erica Bressman is the administrator of Flat Branch Home Loans – The Giving Branch and has been with the nonprofit since its beginning in 2019. As the only paid employee of The Giving Branch, she has many roles such as facilitating monthly meetings with the region committees, constructing and executing all programs including The Giving Branch scholarship for working adults, Homeownership Month, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and more.

Last year, The Giving Branch had a goal of holding its first Giving Branch fundraisers. Four fundraisers throughout the region raised more than $40,000.

Before connecting with The Giving Branch, Bressman did not have any experience in the nonprofit realm.

“Pulling this off was incredible and we were all so proud of the accomplishment,” she said. Upcoming goals for the nonprofit include increasing employee participation.

“We are doing great things with these funds but could be making an even larger impact with more participation,” Bressman remarked.

The Giving Branch also hopes to successfully launch its Community Outreach program and keep it as an opportunity for the employees for years to come. Every year, at its all-employee rally, the group discusses and votes on goals for the coming years. Bressman’s reason for giving back to the community is the overwhelming feeling of happiness she experiences when doing something for someone in need.

“For example, when we built a fence for a little boy with Butterfly syndrome, or when we were able to support a grandmother in our community who had taken on all of her grandchildren – one with extreme medical needs – with a new minivan, those feelings of taking a little bit of the weight off of their shoulders is something that will continue to motivate us to continue serving and giving back,” she explained.

Each person who contributes 1 percent of their pay to The Giving Branch earns a pair of green Converse tennis shoes, a symbol of their dedication to the community. If you see those green chucks walking around, it means that person has dedicated not only their hard earned income but their time to further support those in need.

Bressman cited some of The Giving Branch’s values, including “having compassion, empathy, and humility for those in their greatest time of need. Also having transparency with our employees who so graciously give their funds, continuing to share with them the work that we are doing in our communities.”