By PHOEBE DONALD ROBINSON / Community Columnist

Jimmy Henderson, branch manager of the Columbiana Regions Bank, has been awarded the Regions Bank Better Life Award, the top honor given to a Regions associate for outstanding dedication and job performance, as well as exemplary involvement and commitment to the community.

As the recipient of the award, Henderson will receive $1,000 to donate to a charity of his choice.

Henderson chose Raleigh’s Place, a group home and camp for foster children in Chilton County.

His charity choice exemplifies his life perfectly as he and wife Rebekah have fostered over 30 children.

“My wife and I love kids, and we love God,” said Henderson. “I believe in giving back to the next generation and teaching them to be men and women of great character. We have a strong desire to open our home to foster children who need to be loved and a desire to adopt so that we can continue to show children what a forever family is like. The running joke for those who know the ‘Henderson Herd’ is that they never know how many kids are going to climb out the big red van.”

Henderson met Rebekah at Southeastern Bible College where he graduated with a degree in church ministry and music where their mutual love of children and God drew them together.

The Hendersons were youth missionaries at Ponderosa Bible Camp in Mentone, a faith-based camp where he raised all their financial support.

During this time, Henderson met Scott Bateman, senior president at DeKalb County Regions Bank, who became a close friend and mentor.

Bateman encouraged Henderson to consider a career change to banking. With three children and a wife to support, Henderson became a teller at U.A.B. Regions in 2007.

Through the next seven years Henderson has been promoted from financial service specialist to assistant branch manager and branch manager.

His branches have been in the Chairman’s Club for four years, the top 10 percent at Regions.

Active in Columbiana, Henderson is on the board of directors of the Columbiana Merchants and Professionals Association, Monster Walk 2014 chair, Lion’s Club member and active teacher of many classes at Valleydale Church.

For more information, see youtube/5nsr1NxQMKM.