Fifty-four Detroit-area families got more than newborn joy this May 3—they received a \$1,053 college savings boost from Fifth Third Bank, turning a play on the calendar into an act of generosity.
May 3, or 5/3, is known as Fifth Third Day—a yearly celebration when the bank channels its name into a national day of service and community giving. Each family received a \$1,053 voucher toward a 529 College Savings Plan, tucked inside a care package alongside baby essentials and a DoorDash gift card.
The initiative goes beyond clever branding. In Detroit, Fifth Third partnered with 16 hospitals under Henry Ford Health, McLaren Health, and the Detroit Medical Center to deliver these gifts. Nurses didn’t leave empty-handed either, with appreciation packages marking the lead-up to National Nurses Day.
David Girodat, Eastern Michigan Regional President for Fifth Third, called it a “privilege” to welcome new community members and emphasized the importance of financial mobility. The bank has handed out over \$730,000 in savings vouchers to nearly 700 babies born on May 3 since launching the program in 2017.
Hospital leaders echoed the sentiment. Eric Wallis of Henry Ford Health praised the initiative for supporting families beyond delivery day. Dr. Brian Tesler of McLaren called the effort “a tangible investment,” while DMC’s Joseph Egan highlighted its alignment with a broader mission of care that now extends all the way to college campuses.
For these lucky May 3 babies, the journey toward higher education may have just gotten a little easier—thanks to a bank that turned its name into a tradition of giving.
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