JOURNEY BANK BRINGS FORMER BOSTON CELTIC, CHRIS HERREN, TO 16 AREA HIGH SCHOOLS

Bloomsburg, PA — Journey Bank is pleased to announce the return of Chris Herren—former professional basketball player, nationally recognized speaker, and founder of Herren Talks—to speak with nearly 9,000 students at 16 high schools across North Central Pennsylvania this December and January.

Eight years ago, Journey Bank welcomed Chris Herren to our community, where he met with more than 3,600 students and shared his personal story of addiction, recovery, and resilience. His message made a lasting impact on students, families, and educators. This winter, Journey Bank is honored to bring Chris back to once again spark honest conversations about substance use, wellness, and making positive life choices.

Chris Herren has spoken to more than two million students, athletes, and community members nationwide. As a person in long-term recovery, he challenges audiences to rethink how we view addiction—shifting the focus from the last day to the first—and emphasizes the early choices and pressures that can affect young people’s lives. His presentations highlight mental health, resilience, and healthy decision-making.

“As a local community bank, we are committed to strengthening the communities we serve by supporting education, wellness, and opportunities that help young people build strong futures,” said Lance Diehl, President and CEO of Journey Bank. “Through initiatives like this partnership with Chris Herren, we aim to empower the next generation with knowledge and hope. We are grateful to the school administrators, teachers, and local partners who worked closely with us to make these presentations possible.”

Program Overview

Journey Bank is fully sponsoring 16 presentations for students in grades 9–12 at high schools within its market area. These presentations are closed to the public and intended exclusively for students and school personnel.

Participating Schools:

Columbia and Montour County Schools (Week of December 8)

• Benton*
• Berwick
• Bloomsburg
• Central Columbia
• Columbia-Montour AVTS
• Southern Columbia
• Danville
• Millville
• Warrior Run
*Benton students will attend a joint session at Millville.

Lycoming and Clinton County Schools (Week of January 12)

• East Lycoming
• Jersey Shore
• Montgomery
• Muncy
• Loyalsock
• South Williamsport
• Williamsport
• Williamsport Christian School*
• Montoursville
*Williamsport Christian students will attend a joint session at South Williamsport.

Journey Bank encourages families and community members to learn more about Chris Herren’s work at www.herrentalks.com and to follow Journey Bank on social media for updates as Chris visits schools throughout the region.

Media Availability

Media are invited to attend the Millville High School presentation for limited coverage.

Guidelines:

• Filming, photography, and audio recording are permitted only during the first five minutes after Chris begins speaking for B-roll.
• Confidentiality Reminder: Student names, identifying details, or references to student questions may not be used.
• A brief media press opportunity with Chris Herren and Journey Bank leadership will follow the Millville High School presentation.
• Additional details will be provided separately to credentialed media.
About Journey Bank
For over 125 years, Journey Bank has stood as a beacon of financial trust and expertise in local communities throughout Central PA. The bank represents the combined legacies of First Columbia Bank and Muncy Bank, bringing together more than 300 dedicated employees committed to delivering banking excellence.
With 22 community offices across Columbia, Lycoming, Montour, Northumberland, and Clinton counties, and more than $1.65 billion in assets as of September 30, 2025, Journey Bank provides a full range of banking, trust, and financial services to over 50,000 individuals, families, businesses, and municipalities. Member FDIC.