PORTLAND, Ore. – Umpqua Bank, a subsidiary of Umpqua Holdings Corp., is launching “The Good Project,” a month-long campaign in-stores and on Facebook created to inspire customers and communities to join the company in giving back through simple good deeds.

“Giving back to the communities we serve is an essential part of Umpqua’s culture of service and commitment to being a community bank,” said Eve Callahan, Umpqua Bank’s senior vice president of corporate communications. “The Good Project is an opportunity for us to join with our customers and communities to make a significant and positive difference. We look forward to seeing how people choose to give back – and to watching Umpqua’s Good Deed Fund grow.”

Throughout the month of October, Umpqua Bank invites community members to pledge to do a good deed – from dropping off a bag of food, to mowing a neighbor’s lawn or volunteering at a local nonprofit.

For every Good Deed pledged in an Umpqua store or through the company’s Facebook page, Umpqua will add a $10 donation – up to $50,000 – to its Good Deed Fund.

In November Umpqua will invite the community to help decide which nonprofit groups and schools should be a Good Deed Fund beneficiary.

As part of “The Good Project,” Umpqua is also launching its inaugural Community Good Deed Awards to recognize individuals making a meaningful difference in their communities.

Anyone can nominate a candidate through Umpqua’s Facebook page Oct. 1-14. Twelve finalists will be announced on Oct. 16, with voting throughout the month.

Four winners, one in each of the states Umpqua operates – Oregon, Washington, California and Nevada – will each receive a $5,000 grant for the organization of their choice.

The official nomination rules and submission form may be found at www.facebook.com/umpquabank .