WS Chronicle

For her hard work and dedication to helping individuals reach their goal of becoming homeowners, last week Financial Pathways of the Piedmont named Bianca Green as Financial First Responder of the Year. 

For the past 50 years Financial Pathways has helped families across the Piedmont reach their financial goals. The nonprofit, which was known as Consumer Credit Counseling Services of Forsyth County until the name was changed in 2012, offers programs such as credit and debt counseling, financial education, Senior Financial Care, debt management, and homeownership service.

Every year Financial Pathways holds a luncheon as a fundraiser for the programs they offer, but this is the first year the Financial First Responder of the Year Award was presented. 

According to Andy Harding, a member of the Financial Pathways Board of Directors, nominations were open to financial counselors at local nonprofits, organizations, companies, and financial institutions who exemplify the mission of Financial Pathways and have gone above and beyond to help individuals improve their financial health and overall well-being. 

After nominations were submitted, the list was narrowed down to ten finalists before a winner was chosen. “It has been an honor to be a part of the creation of the inaugural Financial Health First Responders Award,” said Harding during the luncheon last week. 

“We are excited to be acknowledging and celebrating ten individuals who make it a part of their daily job to focus on those who need financial assistance and counseling. During this time of the year a lot of awards are given – CEO of the Year, CFO of the Year, CIO, Best Places to Work – and those winners are all very deserving. But today’s award is for those who walk among us, those who go the extra mile and give focus to individual situations. They are listeners and doers all rolled into one.”

The winner, Bianca Green, is a loan officer for the Forsyth County Community & Economic Development Department. Green’s colleagues said it’s impossible to describe their coworker without using the term “above and beyond.”

In her role as the primary loan officer for the First Time Homebuyers Program, Green is responsible for qualifying and underwriting second mortgages. But oftentimes Green serves as a counselor, realtor, inspector, coach, and therapist to support her clients. After accepting her award, Green said although she doesn’t do it for the recognition, it felt good to be acknowledged. 

She said what she enjoys most about her job is witnessing the impact she makes in people’s lives. 

“Although I haven’t done it for recognition, it feels good and it confirms that I’m doing the right thing,” Green continued. “What I enjoy most is seeing the impact on the people that I help …  the impact on their families. They’re lifting up generations when they reach that goal of becoming a homeowner and I love being a part of that.” 

For more information on Financial Pathways of the Piedmont or the Financial First Responder of the Year Award, visit https://financialpaths.org/.