We are excited to announce the Elite Eight competitors for the Foundation’s Big Shot Showdown – a bracket-style Pop-A-Shot fundraiser where CBAI member all-stars will compete for a great cause! Congratulations to the athletes moving on to round two!

 

Austin Keefer, Prairie Community Bank, Marengo
Mary Jo Homan, First National Bank in Pinckneyville
Dan Graham, Flora Bank & Trust
Rich Eckert, Beardstown Savings, s.b.
Chad Martin, Goodfield State Bank
Melanie Lasley, Anna-Jonesboro National Bank
Jim Weast, Warren-Boynton State Bank, New Berlin
Doug Parrott, State Bank of Toulon

Now, it’s your turn to get involved! YOU get to decide which of the Elite Eight will be makin’ it rain for the Foundation and advance to the Final Four with your donations! From now until August 15, you can support your favorite player(s) by donating in their name.

You can contribute to CBAI directly, donate at CBAI events, or support competitors as they collect donations on their own. Updates will be posted on CBAI’s social media and website on a weekly basis so you can track the action until the final buzzer.

In round two, the Elite Eight create a short video to vie for your support. Then, it will be an all-out fundraising battle through August 15 with total dollars raised carrying over each round. Only the top four competitors will advance to the Final Four and compete in a legendary shoot-out at CBAI’s 52nd Annual Convention & Expo in Indianapolis!

On Saturday, September 19, 2026, immediately following the Recognition Luncheon, the Final Four will face off for Pop-A-Shot glory in what is sure to be an intense battle. The winners of the two semi-final matchups will compete in the championship showdown to crown the Foundation Big Shot!

(The semi-finals and final will be recorded and shared on CBAI’s social media, so no one misses the action.) All contributions go to support the CBAI Foundation for Community Banking scholarship program. The Foundation annually awards more than $40,000 in scholarships to high school seniors and Community Bankers School students. Donations are 100% tax deductible. This fundraiser only works with your help! So, get in the game, support your favorite hoop heroes, and help make this fundraiser a slam dunk for the Foundation!

Download the Foundation Big Shot Showdown Elite Eight flyer and donation form.