Leadership Development and Dollar Bank: A Partnership for the Future
Since 2019, Dollar Bank has partnered with Leadership Development, sharing a common mission of investing in community-focused initiatives. In those six years, Dollar Bank has been the title sponsor for the program and helped engage over 300,000 students in 60 school districts.
Leadership Development was founded by Ron Arnoni, former mayor and councilman and current district judge in Allegheny County, and Brad Killmeyer, a national youth speaker and mentor for students, after the two crossed paths while speaking to teachers at a Pittsburgh high school about providing solutions to challenges facing today’s youth.
Leadership Development’s flagship program, “LEAD,” is an hour-long presentation and Q&A session for middle and high school students in the Pittsburgh area and beyond. The program covers issues such as substance abuse, social media and leadership skills.
“In my career, I have always focused on being proactive versus reactive. We want to prevent problems before they occur. Our goal is to support students while providing the right amount of challenge to help them grow as individuals in a healthy and meaningful way," said Ron Arnoni, Leadership Development President.
For the the students, the impact is immediate. Students remember what they learned from the program, even stopping Leadership Development employees in the street to let them know the effect on them. For the administrators, they look forward to the event to deliver the important messaging their students need.
In the long term, Leadership Development’s programs prevent issues and allow students to strengthen their schools, enrich their families and contribute to the success of their eventual workplaces and communities.
“When Dollar Bank invests in an organization like Leadership Development, it’s an investment for our community’s future, working to build stronger relationships and help these students become the best they can be,” said Maria Amoruso, Dollar Bank Vice President of Public Affairs.
This year, Mr. Arnoni and Mr. Killmeyer wrote a book called “Navigate Your Path to Success” to further their message and impact. The book is a blueprint for personal and professional growth, blending inspiring stories with actionable advice to help people make better decisions and reach new heights. The book features insights from over 30 prominent regional leaders, including Jim McQuade, Dollar Bank’s President and CEO.
Dollar Bank's partnership has allowed Leadership Development to provide numerous Ron Arnoni Leadership-in-Action scholarships. These scholarships are awarded to students who positively impact their school and community.
"It is great to celebrate these exceptional young leaders and how they are making a difference, along with their parents who must be so proud of their child’s accomplishments," said Ron Arnoni.
If you’d like to learn more about Leadership Development’s impact, upcoming events or how to bring the “LEAD” program to your school or organization, visit www.OurLeadFamily.com.
About Dollar Bank
As the nation's largest independent mutual bank, Dollar Bank has been empowering the communities and customers we serve for 170 years. Our more than 90 locations throughout Pennsylvania, Maryland, Ohio and Virginia provide a comprehensive range of personal, small business and corporate banking solutions. We continue to invest in our customers and strengthen our communities through financial education programs and partnerships with organizations who share our dedication to building opportunities for all. As of November 2024, Dollar Bank reported total assets of $11.5 billion, total loans of $9.1 billion, and total deposits of $9.5 billion. For more information, visit Dollar.Bank.