Bankers brighten Monticello home

A home in Monticello received a makeover by local Zions Bank employees during the company’s 32nd annual Paint-a-Thon service project. Bankers traded in balance sheets for brushes to paint and help landscape the home of Marva Butler, 93, who has lived in the house for 74 years. 
More than 20 volunteers - consisting of bank employees from Blanding and Monticello and their family and friends — transformed Butler’s home with a new coat of paint to match the original dark brown and tan color. 
The Paint-a-Thon benefits older adults, people with disabilities and veteran homeowners.  Throughout the week, more than 2,100 volunteers cleaned, scraped and painted 28 homes in Utah, Idaho and Wyoming.
“We look forward to this rewarding service project every year,” said Zions Bank Monticello branch manager and Paint-a-Thon team captain Derryl Jack. “As community bankers, we’re proud to help our neighbors take pride in their homes and maintain their independence.”
The average age of this year’s homeowner is 71, with an average yearly income of $28,117.  Projects completed during the annual week-long event were selected with the assistance of nominations from the public, state housing agencies, community organizations and local churches.
In addition to painting, Zions employees provide yard clean-up, pruning, mowing, planting and minor repairs as needed by homeowners. The cost for paint and supplies is contributed by Zions Bank.
Thanks to health and technological advances, older Americans are increasingly choosing to “age in place.” More than 77 percent of adults over age 50 want to stay in their home for as long as possible, according to an AARP survey. Meanwhile, the number of households headed by those age 65-plus is growing rapidly. Utah’s 65 and older population grew 53% between 2010 and 2020.
Launched in 1991, Zions Bank’s Paint-a-Thon began as a volunteer project for a dozen homes along Utah’s Wasatch Front. Over the three decades, Zions Bank employees have set aside summer pastimes for a week each year — volunteering in the evenings after work — to paint 1,315 homes throughout Utah, Idaho and Wyoming.
Not counting the dollar value of volunteer hours through the years, the bank has donated more than $1.47 million toward beautifying homes in the three states.