Long-Time F&M Community Advocates Named 'Man and Woman of the Year' by YWCA of North Orange County

FULLERTON, Calif. --(Business Wire)--

Farmers & Merchants Bank (F&M) is pleased to announce that senior vice president and regional manager Scott Dowds and his wife Jane were named the 2013 Man and Woman of the Year by the YWCA of North Orange County.

"Scott has demonstrated tremendous leadership that extends beyond his role as an officer with Farmers & Merchants Bank and into the local community," said W. Henry Walker, president of F&M Bank. "I am proud of Scott and Jane's philanthropic investment, as it reflects the values of service and integrity that F&M Bank was founded on."

Together, the Dowds' joined forces to make a positive impact in North Orange (News - Alert) County through community service, while raising three children and pursing full-time careers.

Scott, who has worked for F&M for nearly two decades, is the senio vice president and regional manager of the Fullerton, Santa Ana, Orange and Garden Grove offices. A fixture in North Orange County, Scott is the current past president of the Fullerton Rotary Board of Directors and previous chairman of the Fullerton Chamber of Commerce. He served as a director of Eastside Christian Schools and the Fullerton Boys & Girls Club. He currently sits on the planning committee for the Fullerton Mayor's Prayer Breakfast and as treasurer of the Los Hombres Amigos Foundation.

As a counselor with the Long Beach Unified School District, Jane helped disadvantaged youth deal with academic challenges, social and family issues during a 30-year career. She also worked as a counselor in the Multicultural Studies Program at Cerritos College.

"The YWCA is saluting Scott and Jane Dowds for their proactive involvement in charitable organizations that make a difference in the lives of women and children throughout Orange County," said Diane Masseth-Jones, executive director of the YWCA of North Orange County. "Guided by their Christian principles and passion to help others, they capture the true spirit of our organization which is designed to empower generations of families by addressing their changing needs."

The YWCA will recognize Scott and Jane at its 21^st annual Chocolate Fantasy Gala on February 8. Also being honored: Kimmie Vinson, owner of Kimmie's Coffee Cup Restaurants as Woman Entrepreneur of the Year and Sora Park Tanjasiri, DrPH, MPH, Professor of Health Science, and Director of the Health Promotion Research Institute at California State University, Fullerton as Health Advocate of the Year. The event will be held at the Los Coyotes Country Club, Buena Park, Calif.

About Farmers & Merchants Bank

Founded in Long Beach in 1907 by C.J. Walker, Farmers & Merchants Bank has 21 branches in L.A. and Orange counties. The Bank specializes in commercial and small business banking along with business loan programs. Farmers & Merchants Bank of Long Beach is a California state chartered bank with deposits insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (Member FDIC) and an Equal Housing Lender. For more information about F&M, please call the media contacts listed or visit the website, www.fmb.com.