Paul A. Myers wears a lot of hats.
Like, literally.
By day, he is the Northshore Market president for Metairie Bank. But it is in his capacity as “the balloon man” at St. Tammany Health Foundation’s annual Monster Mash fall festival that he has been seen over the years sporting a comically oversized cowboy hat, a star-spangled Uncle Sam topper and Captain America headgear, among others.
He wouldn’t have it any other way.
“It’s so heartwarming, seeing a child’s face when you hand them a balloon,” Myers said. “I always joke, saying I could be back in the tent blowing up the balloons, but, honestly – and this is a selfish thing for me – they get so excited about it, I can’t resist handing out the balloons.”
Fans of Monster Mash can expect those blue and gold balloons – and Myers’ penchant for costuming – for at least the next three years.
In March, Metairie Bank Northshore renewed its top-level sponsorship of the crowd-pleasing event through 2027. With the three-year renewal, the bank’s Monster Mash sponsorship will reach 11 years, dating to 2017.
According to Myers, that community support by the bank is central to its organizational identity. The fact that Monster Mash benefits the St. Tammany Health System Parenting Center only makes the sponsorship that much more of a perfect fit, given how central family is to Northshore residents.
“One of the things in our purpose statements is that we enrich the communities we serve,” Myers said. “We enrich them by helping them with financing – whether you’re a first-time homebuyer or you’re a real estate investor or a small business owner – but we also recognize that as a community bank, we have to support the community as much as we hope it supports us. It’s always about giving back, establishing relationships.”
For him, support of the health system and its Parenting Center is also personal. Both of his children were born at St. Tammany Health System’s flagship St. Tammany Parish Hospital. Even before he became a father, he took part in one of the Parenting Center’s popular “New Daddy Boot Camp” classes.
“Yes, we’re Metairie Bank, and our name tends to tie us geographically to the southshore,” Myers said,
“but we’ve really worked to entrench ourselves in St. Tammany.”
Marking its 37th year this coming fall, Monster Mash is a large-scale, Halloween-themed festival that draws thousands of costumed guests each year to Covington’s Bogue Falaya Wayside Park. In addition to trick-or-treating, food and beverage options, and live music, the event also boasts inflatables, crafts, games and a range of other activities.
It is the premier fundraiser for the Parenting Center and its robust slate of programs for families, which are offered to the community at little or no cost in an effort to promote confidence and competence in parenting, encourage optimal child development and enhance the well-being of the entire family.
Learn more about the Parenting Center and its offerings at www.StTammany.health/ParentingCenter.