Geist residents Jerry and Carol Gassen have found the perfect way to fuse their passion for fitness and community.
As CEO of Ameriana Bank, Jerry didn’t hesitate to commit the bank’s support for the second annual Geist Half Marathon, set for May 16, 2009. With a $10,000 corporate donation, Ameriana is a captain’s sponsor of this community-wide event which benefits fitness initiatives at Geist area schools.
Carol also has pledged her support as a community liaison to the event coordinator, volunteering her time to help organize pre- and post-race festivities.
The Gassens have always placed a priority on healthy living, so their involvement with the Geist Half Marathon is a natural fit. Both are runners, and Carol plans to run in the Geist Half while Jerry may participate in the 5K due to a torn achilles tendon several years ago.
Although the course ran through their Feather Cove I neighborhood last summer, they had to miss the inaugural race because son Sean had a soccer tournament that day. Sean runs cross-country and track at Lawrence Central and is also on the swim team.
“I’ve spent a lot of my volunteer hours helping organize events and raise money to support the Lawrence Swim Team,” says Carol, also a swimmer. She swims competitively with Indy Swim Fit, a masters swim program that trains at the Fort Harrison YMCA.
“When I turned 40, I decided to do my first triathlon,” Carol adds. Jerry prefers to go mountain climbing or golfing, and both like to travel. In addition to Sean, the couple has a daughter at the University of Iowa, a grown daughter in Chicago and a married son and two grandchildren in Tucson, Ariz.
With such an active family, the Gassens like that the proceeds from the Geist Half will help other local families get fit. Last year, the inaugural race provided $10,000 each to the non-profit foundations for Lawrence Township and Hamilton Southeastern Schools. The money is being used to buy exercise equipment and support fitness programs for students and their families.
“All these kids need a way to stay healthy,” Carol said, adding that developing a habit of running is a good way to stay fit for free.
For the bank’s part, supporting the Geist Half fits perfectly with its community-minded business philosophy. When Gassen took the helm at Ameriana three and a half years ago, he shifted the focus from transactions to relationships.
“We try to promote wellness; we try to be as environmentally conscious as we can. We try to always keep a holistic approach,” he says, sounding more like a physician than a banker.
When Ameriana opened its new branch at Olio and 116th last fall, the bank commissioned a photographer to capture the sights and people of Fishers to decorate the interior. Gassen wants Ameriana to be a true community bank, “kind of like the way banks were 100 years ago,” he says.
To that effect, Ameriana gives its associates eight paid hours per quarter to do volunteer work, whether that be for their church, school or other community projects.
As for the Gassens, everyone who participates in the Geist Half or benefits from a fitness initiative funded by the race will certainly appreciate their efforts to support the Geist community.
