TAUW LEGENDS: Kirk Hays
The TAUW Legends video series preserves the voices and stories of those who shaped our first century of service. As part of our Centennial celebration, Jesse Boudiette, president of Propeller Consulting and Centennial Committee member, sat down with Kirk Hays, who chaired the 2019 annual fundraiser.
Join us in continuing Kirk’s legacy of compassion and community impact. Your gift today in honor of Kirk helps write the next chapter of our story, ensuring that future generations will have access to the same life-changing services that have touched so many lives over the past century.
interview highlights
Jesse Boudiette: Tell me how you first got involved with the Tulsa Area United Way.
Kirk Hays: Well, I first got involved with United Way in Texas about 40 years ago as a loaned executive. That experience kind of carried me throughout my career in banking. I started giving to the United Way, like we all do, especially in banks, and served on various committees. Then, several years ago, right before COVID, Alison approached me, asking me to be the chair of the campaign. I was grateful for that opportunity, of course. So that’s the short story of how I got involved.
Jesse: Arvest Bank—why involve the company? Why not just do this by yourself and let your employees decide on their own whether to plug into the community?
Kirk: Well, if you’re in banking, you need to understand—at least that’s how it is within Arvest Bank and in my career—that a bank is there to serve the needs of the community, period. There are a lot of ways that a financial organization can do that, obviously through loans and the banking products and services that individuals and businesses need, but supporting the community also comes in other areas, like helping United Way and similar entities. For Arvest in particular, that community focus is essential. Arvest has always been a bank focused on community support, not just through loans but through what we do within our customer base, through the Arvest Foundation, and other ways in which we support communities.
Jesse: Some people give, and it feels like that support goes to anonymous individuals. Other times, it’s a co-worker or a neighbor who benefits. Have you seen or heard stories where the need is closer than we think?
Kirk: Absolutely. Every year, we do that within our group of employees here at Arvest Bank. We talk about and give our associates the opportunity to share those stories, and it’s very impactful when you find out that someone just down the cubicle from you is using those services. It helps promote that need within our organization. The team and staff at United Way deserve all the praise, blessings, and prayers from every last Tulsan because they are carrying the load, telling the story, and breaking records every year with fundraising to provide the support this community needs.