We sponsored the Young Professionals of Racine float in the city’s Fourth Fest parade.

This Independence Day, our Racine branches teamed up to help build and sponsor the Young Professionals of Racine float for the city’s Fourth Fest. Their message was “Got a crew? We do! Sail ahead and succeed with the Young Professionals of Racine!” Members of the group dressed as various professions — doctor, police officer, teacher, banker, mechanic — to represent the diversity of Racine’s emerging workforce leaders.

New Berlin Teller Supervisor Kristel Salinas and Westgate and Northside Area Branch Manager Sara Luther Hagerman rode on the float, while Westgate Teller Sam Braun braved the heat and walked the three-plus miles as Seymour Savings, waving, cheering and dancing the entire way. Mobbed by kids every few blocks, he stole the show.

The YPR float cruises through Racine.

The Fourth Fest parade is the largest in the Midwest, with an estimated audience of more than 100,000 people. It features nearly 200 entries, including horses, clowns, jugglers, floats, bands, fire trucks, antique cars and dignitaries. The parade takes more than three hours to see in full, and in 2008, USA Today named Racine one of the top 10 places to celebrate Independence day, just behind Washington, D.C.

Seymour was a hit with young parade-goers.

The North Shore Bank-sponsored YPR float was entered into the parade’s formal judging program in the “amateur” category and won an honorable mention ribbon. We were one of only two financial institutions to participate in the parade this year.