When tragedy strikes, it can seem impossible to persevere. However, the DePalma family did just that and turned their tragedy into an inspiring message and legacy for their son.  With FirstBank helping customers and communities in need through our Act of Goodness campaign, we had the opportunity to honor their son and provide the DePalma’s some support. 

Meet the DePalma Family:

In July 2022, Tami and Gino DePalma’s 17-year-old son, Dominic, was looking forward to his senior year and starting for Broomfield High School’s varsity soccer team, when he was unexpectedly killed in a car crash.  

Since that day, the DePalma’s have dedicated their lives to the Dominic DePalma Memorial Soccer Scholarship fund. This fund was established to honor Dominic and help carry on his passion for soccer by assisting to pay for travel expenses, team fees, and uniforms for under-the-radar athletes. 

Tami and Gino DePalma have been customers of FirstBank since 1985. When the tragic news broke, several FirstBankers wanted to help. Melissa Nolan, Loan System Support Manager, submitted the DePalmas for an Act of Goodness, the bank’s giving campaign that seeks to spread “goodness” and help customers in need.

Melissa noticed the DePalmas were raising funds to build two memorial benches in Broomfield. They had only raised $4,100 out of $7,000 at the time. With the help of the bank, Melissa and the team could donate the remaining funds for the memorial benches along with a handful of other monetary gifts for groceries, household items, and supplies to continue making “Do It For Dominic” stickers and magnets. 

FirstBank’s donation and “Acts of Goodness” initiative exemplifies the company’s mission and vision of “banking for good.” 

“We are grateful to have Dominic’s legacy honored in such powerful ways. As I have repeated in the last 8 1/2 months, in the middle of this awful nightmare, there are also pockets of tremendous beauty. FirstBank is the latest in a parade of supportive people who continue to show up, day after day, in every possible way. I will never find enough chances to thank you all. But I sure can try…Dominic didn’t get to take nearly enough breaths. But FirstBank, and all of our incredible friends, continue to take my breath away,” said Tami DePalma. 

A big thank you to Melissa Nolan and the entire team at our North Branch for helping surprise the DePalmas. You can learn more about the DePalma scholarship fund at doitfordominicd.com. 

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