COMMUNITY
 

Community and Contributions


Evidence of Mission’s commitment to social responsibility starts with our primary objectives. Consistent with two of Mission’s three primary objectives, Mission intends to be a role model and leader in corporate responsibility through investment in community needs and through employment practices that go beyond non-discrimination.

Mission’s name was selected to support our core objectives. The name “Mission” can certainly connote different things to different constituencies. Mission's founders wanted to blend something local with something universal. Mission San Xavier is one of Tucson’s most noteworthy landmarks, and it is inextricably identified with the local Native American population. To its own personnel, the company wants the name to serve as a reminder that their roles are not ends in themselves but part of an outreach to accomplish the objectives of the clients and the objectives of the company, which extend far beyond profitability. To clients, staff and the public at large the company wants “Mission” to be identified with the quest to accomplish simultaneously: financial and social objectives, and an internal exercise of social responsibility.

Perhaps the most meaningful contribution in this arena was Mission’s establishment of the Dr. Martha R. Seger Work/Study Scholarship to support the education and professional development of women and minorities. This internally funded and administered program has helped four minority women students further their education and has provided on-the-job training for three of the four. Rather than having a small impact on many people through a contribution to a community charity, Mission’s commitment to fund this scholarship has helped completely change four students’ lives, enabling them for success after college.

Contributing a portion of all revenues to charitable projects supported by clients, directors, and staff is an important objective for Mission. More than just meeting this objective, Mission and its staff have been recognized for leadership in support of the community by the YWCA Corporate Award, received in 1996, and the inaugural Athena Award given by the Arizona State Chamber of Commerce. Working Woman magazine selected Mission as a regional finalist for the Entrepreneurial Excellence award in the category of social responsibility.

Since inception, Mission has made substantial financial contributions to a wide range of community organizations. The more successful we are as an organization, the greater the return to these and other charitable organizations. In addition to monetary contributions from Mission, the company encourages and supports active community involvement on the part of the staff.

AGJA - American Junior Golf Association (Girl's Division) Alzheimer's Association
America - Israel Friendship League
American Cancer Society
Angel Charity
Arthritis Foundation
Big Brothers/Big Sisters
Bishop's Annual Catholic Appeal
Boy Scouts of America
Boys & Girls Club of Tucson
Carondelet Foundation
Catalina Foothills Bobby Sox Silver Streaks (Girl's Softball Team)
Catholic Community Services
Catholic Foundation
Cedric Dempsey Cancer Center Run
Center for Spiritual Development
Diocese of Amarillo
Diocese of Tucson
Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston
Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose
Franciscan Sisters of Our Lady
Friends of the Poor
Goodwill Industries, Inc.
Health Education Project
Leave a Legacy Arizona
Leo Golembiewski Celebrity Golf Classic benefiting Ara Parseghian Medical Research Foundation, Arizona Wildcats and TROT
MDA- Muscular Dystrophy Association
Missionary Catechists of Divine Providence
New Mexico Youth Diagnostic/Development Center
Old Pueblo Civitan Foundation
PACRI - Philadelphia Area Coalition for Responsible Investment
Pima Community College Foundation
SACASA- Southern Arizona Center Against Sexual Assault
San Carlos Mission
Servants of Mary
Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament
Sisters of St. Ann
Sisters of St. Joseph in California
Sisters of St. Joseph - Wheeling
Sisters of the Holy Spirit
Southern Arizona Sports Development Corporation
Southern Arizona Women's Fund
St. Elizabeth of Hungary Clinic
St. Luke's Board of Visitors
Taller San Jose
The Todd M. Beamer Foundation
TROT - Therapeutic Riding of Tucson
Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Tucson Shalom House, Inc.
Tucson Symphony
United Way
University of Arizona Hispanic Alumni Scholarship Fund
University of Arizona Foundation
University of Arizona - Omega Delta Phi
University of Arizona Women's Soccer Team
University of California, Berkeley - Scholarship recipient Sister Anita de Luna (Ph.D.)
University of San Diego - Scholarship recipient Fabi Posada Cram
Women's Foundation of Southern Arizona
Youth for Peace Initiative Gun Buy-Back Project
YMCA
YWCA Women on the Move
YWCA Bright Futures Program

ELLER COLLEGE/MISSION PARTNERSHIP EXCEEDS EXPECTATIONS

 

“We’re getting help, they’re getting the exposure and the opportunity, so it’s a win-win for both of us.”
Noell Rodriguez, Vice President, Portfolio Manager

From L-R: Brad Hoge; Suzanne Cummins, J.D., Faculty Fellow, Eller College of Management, University of Arizona; Rashad Kelly; Karen McCutchin
 

When it comes to exceeding clients’ expectations, Mission Management & Trust Co. has found it is not alone.

 

Interns from the University of Arizona’s Eller College of Management are successfully engaged in special projects at Mission, and are delighting everyone with their acumen, ability and attitude.

 

Initially, Mission viewed the partnership warily, according to Carmen Bermúdez, Mission’s Chairman and CEO.

 

“I didn’t have a very good impression of some MBA students we interviewed from the University of Arizona. They seemed to feel that they should be making six-figure salaries immediately. I thought they should be more realistic.”

 

That’s when Faculty Fellow Suzanne Cummins stepped in. Cummins, who oversees Eller College’s internship program, asked Mission to give the students another chance.

 

“Great magic happens when we bring our product—students—to show what they can do,” said Cummins.

 


University of Arizona interns Karen McCutchin and Brad Hoge roll up their sleeves at Mission.

By all accounts, the partnership is working exceedingly well.

 

“We’re getting help, they’re getting the exposure and the opportunity, so it’s a win-win for both of us,” said Noell Rodriguez, Vice President, Portfolio Manager.

 

The interns’ workload is far from light.

 

For example, Karen McCutchin (along with several other students) spent two months poring over 10 years of securities transactions to prepare Mission for new global investment performance standards.

 

“I love puzzles, and I saw this as an opportunity to make all the pieces fit—particularly when you didn’t have the box with the (completed puzzle) picture to go by,” said McCutchin, a junior Accounting major.

 

Brad Hoge is ably assuming an equally daunting agenda. The junior Accounting major is helping reconcile statements and is checking for deviances before quarterly client statements are sent.

 

But that’s not all.

 

“I update prices every morning from the night server and monitor which CDs and CPs are maturing,” he explained. Hoge shadows Assistant Portfolio Manager Rose Ronquillo as she monitors other key data each afternoon.

 

“I’m very, very impressed with the interns’ progress,” said Bermúdez.

 

“I’d like to see more Tucson businesses give students these opportunities. I want to share this ‘diamond in the rough.’”