FSS Participant Tina Coleman Appears in Huntington Bank's 2003 Annual Report

The following is the transcript of an article that appeared in Huntington Bank's 2003 Annual Report. The article was in the report because of Huntington Banks involvement in the Ways To Work program.

The article is titled, Tina Coleman: On The Road to a Better Life.

In spite of personal setbacks, Tina Coleman is all the more driven to create a secure future for herself and her two small children, thanks to Huntington's involvement in a national program available in New Philadelphia, Ohio.

New Philadelphia is in Tuscarawas County, a small community without public transportation. Tina is among the low-to-moderate income residents who would be totally isolated without the Ways To Work: Family Loan Program, which enables participants to obtain low-interest auto loans so they can get to their jobs.

Huntington is the sole lender in the local program, a collaborative endeavor with Personal and Family Counseling Service, Tuscarawas County Job and Family Services, and the Tuscarawas Valley Division of Goodwill Industries.

Actually, Tina is not working but attending school fulltime. She's undertaking courses at Kent State University's Tuscarawas Campus in hopes of entering the nursing program.

Since her divorce, life has not been easy for Tina and her sons-7 year old Zachary, who is "slightly autistic," and Isaiah, 6. Yet every statement from her is one of determination to succeed, or of gratitude toward those who have placed their trust in her.
 
"My grade point is 3.6," she says, "and I'm doing everything I can to keep it there. It's hard work, but I'm up to the challenge."

"Her attitude is terrific," says Huntington's North Broadway Banking Manager Susan Klann. "Fred Weingarth, the Ways To Work loan coordinator, felt she was really a great candidate for the program, and we agreed." 

To Tina, the value of Ways to Work transcends the freedom and mobility she has with her '96 Chevy Prism. "They provided much more than a car," she asserts. "They gave me encouragement and support. They had confidence in me. I was always afraid to try something new. Now that I have my family, I have to try something new...to get out of this situation...to become independent."