Our Community

For the past three years, the Paragon Team has participated in the Book It 5K, which supports the Emmanuel Center and Books from Birth. The Emmanuel Center’s mission is to break the cycle of poverty through education and strengthening young minds, bodies, and spirits. Books from Birth promotes kindergarten readiness and strengthens family bonds in Shelby County by providing age-appropriate books for all children from birth to age five.

For the past three years, the Paragon Small Business Capital Group has worked with Habitat for Humanity’s A Brush with Kindness program. The team repairs homes and maintains yards for low income seniors and disabled residents in DeKalb County, Georgia.

The 2019-2020 school year is the 15th school year that Paragon has adopted Ms. Kimberly Martin’s class at Hawkins Mill Elementary, an urban public school located in Memphis’s Frayser community. Nearly all of the students (99.8%) are economically disadvantaged. Paragon team members provide classroom supplies, organize four parties a year for the students, and provide newspapers through the Commercial Appeal’s Newspapers in Education.

Each year Paragon team members plan and execute an elaborate wish-granting party for a child with a life-threatening illness. The event’s theme reflects the child’s favorite book, movie, or character. Team members divide up to decorate, plan games, and prepare food. In May of 2017, team members granted their twelfth wish.

The Memphis Child Advocacy Center’s mission is to serve children who are victims of sexual and physical abuse by providing prevention, education, and intervention. Even before the bank was chartered, Paragon team members served as waiters for the Memphis Child Advocacy’s annual Chef’s Celebrity Gala fundraiser — and still do today. In addition, Paragon sponsors cubbies on the organization’s Bear Wall where children receive a teddy bear when they first arrive at the Center.

Every year since 2007, Paragon Bank has sponsored the Mid-South Food Bank Student Food Drive. Paragon’s Banking Centers serve as drop-off points for participants’ donations. Simultaneously, Paragon holds its own food drive. Paragon team members divide into groups to compete for the most original display and for the most cans and cash donations collected. The teams also have worked at the Mid-South Food Bank’s warehouse sorting cans and other non-perishable food items.

The Neighborhood Christian Centers (NCC) strive to break the cycle of poverty prevalent in America’s inner cities. NCC programs provide emergency food and clothes, family enrichment, parent education, job and life skills training for women, after-school and college preparatory programs, and healthy baby classes. Since 2013, Paragon team members have assisted with NCC’s Annual Spring Jam. During Spring Jam, NCC transforms their building into a virtual foreign country so that children who cannot afford to travel have an opportunity to experience the excitement of an international trip.

United Way funds support agencies and programs to improve the health, education, and income of Shelby County citizens. Each year Paragon holds a kick-off breakfast to jumpstart the annual pledge drive. During the meal, Paragon team members speak about their personal connections to United Way agencies, such as the Madonna Learning Center, United Housing, and the Memphis Child Advocacy Center.

Since its foundation, Paragon has tried to embody the “Art of Banking” – providing sophisticated products and services with a superior level of customer service. In the same way, Paragon promotes and elevates the work of local and budding artists alike. That’s why each Paragon location is filled with original artwork from local artists. Paragon also plays hosts to rotating student exhibits at the Saddle Creek Banking Center as well as periodic art shows from students and teachers in other locations.