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Bank 'on board' for TF South

First National's gift to fund new scoreboard, baseball field revamp

By Phil Rockrohy, The Times Newspaper

January 4, 2008

LANSING - First National Bank has agreed to literally top off the overhaul of the baseball field at Thornton Fractional South High School.

The bank offered TF South $9,000 to buy a new scoreboard and use any excess funds to finish renovating the field, said Gil Rynberk, First National Bank president and CEO.

"It's a nice legacy for the bank and good community exposure," he said. "We wanted to do something meaningful to represent our legacy and our interest and confidence in the future of Lansing."

In exchange, Thornton Fractional Township High School district 215 Board of Education agreed last month to let First National Bank place its logo on the scoreboard.

"The district will decide what scoreboard it will be, but it will have a sign that says 'First National Bank' because of the size of the donation," board President Debra Waitekus said.

Board members expressed concern about the size and nature of the logo, but Superintendent Creg Williams said the district will be permitted to approve both the scoreboard and the logo used by First National.

"The scoreboard just won't have any Web site, phone numbers or things like that on it," Waitekus said.

first National offered to fund the scoreboard and assist with the field renovation because of it strong ties to Lansing, said Rynberk, a 1982 graduate of TF South.

"We've been in town since 1945," he said. "As far as Lansing is concerned, we are really the only true community bank in town. We have the same ownership and a consistent management team."

First National Bank responded quickly to the TF South booster Club's request for help, Principal John Hallberg said.

"They got on board right away," Hallberg said. "They wanted to do something scoreboard-wise. It's welcome to us. We'll take anything we can get. It's another example of the community supporting programs here at TF South."

Rynberk said he was proud to be the first corporate donor under the district's new policy for accepting donations.

"It's sort of breaking new ground," he said. "The new policy is to enable the school district to engage in these kinds of programs going forward. It's neat to be a part of that."