Wells Fargo & NBC's TODAY Announce 'Small Acts, Big Impacts' Contest Winner

For the past month, Wells FARGO (NYSE: WFC) and NBC's "TODAY" have asked viewers and social media fans to share stories of community heroes making a big impact via small acts of generosity. From more than 600 nominations, Dale Ortmann of Manorville, Pennsylvania, was chosen as the winner of "TODAY's" Small Acts, Big Impacts CONTEST sponsored by Wells Fargo, receiving a trip to New York City and the opportunity to tell his story live on NBC's "TODAY."

Ortmann, who was nominated by his wife, Shannon, was selected as the contest's winner based on his personal project to repair and donate fishing poles to local children and their families. Over the past year, Ortmann has refurbished nearly 350 used fishing rods - both from his personal collection and those donated by friends and neighbors - and given them to local children to help them learn more about fishing, the outdoors and water safety.

"This campaign with Wells FARGO was a great fit for NBC's 'TODAY,' allowing us to celebrate the show's audience, who believes in giving back to the community," said Mark Miller, Advertising Sales, NBCUniversal News Group.

In addition to sharing his story with the world and being recognized as a true community hero, Ortmann was surprised on live TV with a $50,000 donation from Wells FARGO to help him continue his work and help even more children in his community.

"Wells FARGO celebrates the idea that little by little we can do a lot to build and strengthen our communities, and we love how that concept is at the heart of 'TODAY's' Small Acts, Big Impacts contest," said Jamie Moldafsky, Wells FARGO chief marketing officer. "We're thrilled to see how this notion is being brought to life every day in the wonderful stories that were shared through the contest, and so pleased to help recognize and support Dale and his commitment to helping educate and improve the lives of youth in his community."

Wells Fargo's current Small is HugeSM advertising campaign also seeks to bring this message to life - that there's no problem so big that we can't overcome it, one small measure at a time. Visit Wells FARGO Stories to learn more.

About Wells FARGO & Company

Wells FARGO & Company (NYSE: WFC) is a nationwide, diversified, community-based financial services company with $1.6 trillion in assets. Founded in 1852 and headquartered in San Francisco, Wells FARGO provides banking, insurance, investments, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance through more than 9,000 locations, 12,500 ATMs, and the internet (wellsfargo.com), and has offices in 36 countries to support customers who conduct business in the global economy. With approximately 265,000 team members, Wells FARGO serves one in three households in the United States. Wells FARGO & Company was ranked No. 29 on Fortune's 2014 rankings of America's largest corporations. Wells Fargo's vision is to satisfy all our customers' financial needs and help them succeed financially. Wells FARGO perspectives are also available at Wells FARGO Blogs and Wells FARGO Stories.

About NBC's TODAY

NBC's TODAY is the news program that informs, entertains, inspires and sets the agenda each morning for Americans. Airing live from 7 am to 11 am ET, TODAY reaches more than 5 million people every day through its broadcast, and millions more through TODAY.com, the TODAY app, and social media platforms. Matt Lauer, Savannah Guthrie, Al Roker, Natalie Morales, Willie Geist, Tamron Hall, Carson Daly, Hoda Kotb, and Kathie Lee Gifford are the anchors and hosts, Jamie Horowitz is the SVP and general manager, and Don Nash is the executive producer.

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