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Ongoing support demonstrates KeyBank's commitment to pre-college DEI programs and scholarships.

KeyBank is among the largest regional banks in the United States, with more than 1,000 branches in more than 20 states, including Colorado. So its leaders are plugged in to the most important issues at both the local and national level.听

It鈥檚 no surprise, then, that KeyBank is such a strong supporter of efforts surrounding diversity, equity and inclusion at work.听

KeyBank has long been an advocate for, and supporter, of DEI activities at the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado, and offered its most significant show of support this week through a $300,000 donation to the school.听

That financial commitment will allow Leeds to continue offering programs like the KeyBank Business Leadership and KeyBank Summer Bridge programs鈥攑re-college initiatives designed to give first-generation students and those from diverse backgrounds the skills, encouragement and confidence needed to apply to college and excel once they arrive.听

鈥淲hat鈥檚 so special about KeyBank is they offer both programmatic support and scholarships,鈥� said Ruby Batalla, director of the Office of Diversity Affairs at Leeds. 鈥淭he scholarship support helps make college more affordable for our students, which is important, but KeyBank also offers case analyses support and an on-campus experience for those pre-college programs. That attracts prospective students to Leeds and allows us to run these high-quality, high-impact programs.鈥澨�

Batalla also noted that KeyBank鈥檚 leaders are a regular presence on campus, demonstrating their commitment in the DEI space. At several points on a tour of the Koelbel and Rustandy buildings on the CU campus during the check presentation ceremony, KeyBank leaders were stopped by students who completed the summer programs before enrolling at Leeds.听

鈥淲e know firsthand that the programs funded by this relationship increase retention rates, confidence, leadership skills, awareness of career opportunities and overall career readiness for participants,鈥� said Adam Warner, president of Key Equipment Finance and member of the Leeds School of Business Advisory Board. The bank鈥檚 relationship with Leeds, he said, is an honor, 鈥渂ecause when we open the doors to education and opportunity for first generation college students, everyone wins.鈥澨�

Evidence of effectiveness

That鈥檚 borne out by looking at the success of the programs KeyBank has helped support. For the most recent cohort of participants, 100 percent of CU applicants from the KeyBank Business Leadership Program were admitted to Leeds.听

鈥淎t Key, we are committed to continuing our longstanding legacy as a diverse, equitable and inclusive company,鈥� said Mike Katz, KeyBank鈥檚 market president for Colorado. 鈥淲e believe that providing support and opportunity to first-generation college students from underrepresented groups is an investment with widespread benefits鈥攆or the individual, his or her family, future employers and the entire community.鈥�

Batalla said KeyBank is no newcomer to the space, either. Rather, the bank has long had a focus on the pipeline of prospective employees they can expect hire upon graduation.听

鈥淏usinesses have to keep those pipelines in mind鈥攁nd they can鈥檛 afford to just think, 鈥業鈥檒l get them when they鈥檙e undergraduates,鈥欌�� she said. 鈥淭hey need to support entry to the pipeline, which begins long before those students set foot on campus. KeyBank has been really thoughtful about this, and about understanding that businesses do not get diverse candidates if they do not invest in their access.鈥澨�

Why Leeds听 KeyBank Business Leadership Program