Community Involvement article Braune Williams.indd

2012 Community Service Volunteer
Officer CRA-Related Award
Congratulations to Debbie Braune and Brenda Williams!
Debbie Braune, Risk Management/CRA Officer, and
Brenda Williams, Senior Project Manager, are being honored for
their work with Gateway to Hope. Gateway to Hope is a new notfor-profit organization with a vision “to provide a hand up to the
homeless in East Texas” and a mission “to provide the needed
resources and training to help people find and obtain
employment and thus end homelessness.”
Both Braune and Williams serve as volunteers in the facility. They
assist with several tasks such as overseeing shower facilities and
providing clean-up of the area; coordinating the laundry facilities;
sorting donated clothing; providing computer support to prepare
résumés and complete employment applications and entertaining
children while the parents take advantage of the services available.
Williams also provides hair cuts to the individuals and children
who come to the center.
Debbie Braune
VP/Risk Management, CRA Officer
Gateway to Hope provides services to the homeless population
of Smith County that are not available elsewhere. In addition to
facilities to meet personal needs, they provide state photo IDs, an
address and phone number to use on job applications, mailboxes
and access to a network of social and job agencies. Braune and
Williams are currently developing a financial literacy curriculum
specifically to assist the homeless.
Braune has been with Austin Bank for over 21 years. She has
held several positions including bookkeeping clerk, teller, loan
secretary and loan officer. A graduate of Oakland High School in
Illinois and Eastern Illinois University, Braune and her husband,
Ray, reside in Whitehouse. They have two daughters and two
granddaughters.
Brenda Williams
SVP/Senior Project Manager
Williams has been with the Bank for over 18 years where she has
served as Manager of the Central Loan Documentation
department, compliance officer, loan review officer and a loan
officer. She is a graduate of Tyler Junior College and LeTourneau
University. Williams and her husband, Terry, live in Flint and
have one son and two grandsons. In addition to Gateway to Hope,
Williams has also volunteered with the American Business
Woman’s Association, the Circle of 10, Habitat for Humanity and
Boy Scouts of America.
Member FDIC