Phoenix Food Company to Help Children’s Cancer Center of Lebanon with Support of Local Bank

Americano Foods, creator of Americano® nut butters announced they will contribute 100 percent of proceeds from online sales throughout September to relief work in Beirut, Lebanon. FirstBank, one of the nation’s largest privately held banks with a focus on “banking for good,” has agreed to match money raised throughout the month.

Devastated watching the Beirut explosion and economic situation in the country, company co-owners Denise and Jeff Malkoon, who are third-generation Phoenicians of Lebanese descent, were inspired to do as much as possible to serve those in need. “The effort to rebuild the city of Beirut will take years but hospitals like the Children’s Cancer Center of Lebanon who serve the most vulnerable don’t have that time and need our help now,” owner Jeff Malkoon shared on twitter.

“It’s heartbreaking that more than 300,000 human beings are still displaced following the August explosions,” said Joel Johnson, FirstBank Arizona Market President. “FirstBank is honored to work with Americano Foods, a local company taking initiative to support a community trying to recover from a disaster.”

From now until the end of September, 100 percent of proceeds from online shop eatamericano.com will go directly to Beirut-based Children’s Cancer Center of Lebanon, an affiliate of St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, that serves childhood cancer patients of all ages and was deeply affected by the recent explosion.

Americano Foods is a nutritious spread company based in Phoenix, AZ. Founded in 2013 Americano Foods develops, produces and distributes nut butter products in multiple unique flavors.  Their products can be found in thousands of retail locations including Arizona Sprouts, Fry’s and AJs locations. They have built a reputation for their work with local nonprofits and hunger relief agencies like St. Mary’s Food Bank.

FirstBank began providing banking services in Colorado in 1963. Today, the bank maintains more than $20 billion in assets and operates more than 110 branch locations across Colorado, Arizona and California. FirstBank offers a variety of checking accounts, savings accounts, home equity loans, mortgages, and a full range of commercial banking services, including financing, treasury management and deposit accounts. Since 2000, FirstBank has been recognized as a leader in corporate philanthropy, contributing more than $70 million and thousands of volunteer hours to charitable organizations. The company is also unique in that a large portion of its stock is owned by management and employees, giving all employees a financial stake in the bank’s success through its Employee Stock Ownership Program.