Arvest Bank makes $5,000 donation to Gabriel’s House

DUNCAN, Okla. (July 12, 2019) – Parents in Duncan have long used Gabriel’s House as a place to receive tutoring, care and snacks for their children after school. Now, the organization will be able to enhance those opportunities thanks to a $5,000 donation from the Arvest Foundation.

The gift was announced today at Gabriel’s House’s annual board meeting in Duncan. Hal Labyer and Larry Benson of Arvest Bank was on hand to present the check.

The funds will help Gabriel’s House provide supplies and resources for the after-school enrichment program, which provides a safe environment for at-risk students 1st-5th grade as well as provide more healthy snacks and dinners to kids, purchase supplies to help kids with schoolwork and help pay tuition for underserved children. The organization is also expanding into Comanche, which will bring an estimated 40 more children into the program.

“It’s obviously a surprise, because it isn’t something we write (a grant) for. We’ve been fortunate to receive it in the past and we’re humbled to receive it again,” Gabriel’s House Executive Director Dallas Gibbs said. “Since we’re opening a new facility in Comanche, that will have about half as many kids as Duncan, it’s going to be a strain on our budget. We weren’t expecting this, but it came at the perfect time.”

“Gabriel’s House is a pillar of the Duncan community. It cannot receive enough praise for the work that it does for our children day after day, year after year,” Arvest Bank Duncan Community President Hal Labyer said. “Being able to give this donation to such a wonderful organization on behalf of the Arvest Foundation is special to me.”

About the Arvest Foundation

The Arvest Foundation seeks to provide funding to grantees who are actively working to create positive change for others. Major areas of focus include: K-12 education, economic development, and enhancing the quality of life throughout the Arvest footprint. For more information, go to www.arvestfoundation.org.

Cutline: Arvest Bank’s Hal Labyer (far left) and Larry Benson (third from right) present a $5,000 check to Gabriel’s House on behalf of the Arvest Foundation on Thursday