What began as a simple effort to give back has blossomed into a decades-long tradition—Zions Bank’s annual Paint-a-Thon returned in early June to celebrate its 33rd year of community transformation.

The event took place over the course of three days, beginning June 2 and concluding June 4. This year saw over 1,100 volunteers engaging in 15 projects statewide, designed to bring fresh coats of paint to various institutions and affordable housing sites. Among the targeted properties were classrooms in a local Northern Utah Boys & Girls Club, exam rooms at Bicknell’s Wayne Community Health Center, and The Monaco, an affordable housing apartment complex located in Millcreek. 

“Paint-a-Thon is a chance to give back to the nonprofits and individuals who give so much to our communities,” said Zions Bank project leader Mike Forsgren. “It’s one of many ways Zions Bank is focused on investing in the communities we serve.”

The Paint-a-Thon is a beloved tradition that the bank has championed since 1991. Back then, it was a much smaller operation, but the heart of the event has always been rooted in providing painting and other beautification services to buildings in need. The first Paint-a-Thon’s scope included a dozen homes across the Wasatch Front.

Today, its grown to be a multistate operation, with projects routinely expanding as far as Wyoming and Idaho. Thanks to Zions and its dedicated team of volunteers, over the course of three decades, over 1,316 homes and nonprofit facilities throughout the aforementioned states have received assistance. 

Per the bank’s media release for the event, “Not counting the dollar value of volunteer hours through the years, the bank has donated more than $1.5 million toward beautifying communities in the three states.” 

Community has always been a focal point of Zions’ message and marketing. Spanning an impressive 150 years in business, Zions has long established itself as Utah’s oldest financial institution priding itself on being an integral leader in funding small businesses in Utah through their lending programs. 

Zions believes that small, local businesses are the lifeblood of Utah, which is why small businesses are often prioritized on the Paint-a-Thon’s agenda. This year, in particular, Zions wanted to focus on affordable housing projects, like Millcreek’s Monaco Apartments, in the face of rising concerns regarding housing costs in Utah. 

The Monaco has been serving low-to-moderate income families for over a decade, establishing itself as a pillar of hope in the community of Millcreek. Its residents, on average, are at 55% area median income. Operating under Bridge Investment Group in their workforce housing portfolio, The Monaco has also benefited from services provided onsite by Project Access, a nonprofit organization providing childcare, food stabilization and other critical services. 

For many in the community, preserving the integrity of The Monaco is a top priority. Following a shift in ownership, the apartments are now overseen by the Utah Housing Preservation Fund, a banking organization that partners with various government and business entities across the state, providing Utahns with affordable housing opportunities. 

“The Utah Housing Preservation Fund is one of the most unique public, private partnerships anywhere in the country to help address this issue,” said Gov. Spencer Cox. “We’re seeing homelessness on the rise, money spent on prevention is going to save much more money on the back end, and that was very compelling.” 

The Utah Preservation Fund intends to fully uphold the legacy of The Monaco Apartments, by continuing efforts to provide crucial services to those who need them the most. Chiefly among them, will be the pursuit to maintain The Monaco’s legacy as a safe and affordable apartment building, benefiting Millcreek residents directly. 

As the Paint-a-Thon concluded, many volunteers reflected on the experience, including CEO Paul Burdiss, who was on site at the James. R Russell Head Start Center, a preschool operated by nonprofit Utah Community Action. Burdiss stressed the importance of community and giving back to those who have kept Zions Bank in business for decades on end. 

“Zions Bank is invested in our communities because our communities are invested in Zions Bank.” λ