DONATIONS

Bay Federal CU, Capitola, Calif., held a fund-raiser for Jacob's Heart, a local children's cancer support group, selling paper hearts to raise funds for the organization's projects. The programs provide financial aid, meals and counseling services to more than 50 local children currently fighting cancer. After CU staff in 1998 "adopted" little Maddy Buell, a 3-year-old with cancer, they pulled together to raise funds to send her to Disneyland and also helped with meals and support when she was treated at Stanford Children's Hospital. Though Maddy died, BFCU staff keep her memory close to their hearts and continue efforts to help others in similar straits, said Dyann Meschi, marketing manager. 57 Maine CUs & four CU Chapters, Westbrook, Maine, raised $133,820 during their 1999 CU Campaign to End Hunger. "The momentum that has been created by the Ending Hunger campaign over the past 10 years has been tremendous, and we know that it has made a difference in our goal to eliminate hunger in our communities," said Mariann Goff, CEO of Greater Portland Municipal CU and chairwoman of the Maine CU League's Social Responsibility Committee. Multco CU, Portland, Ore., has collected numerous donations for the homeless, during its latest community outreach initiative. Pam Loupal, chairwoman of the effort, is working with the Central City Concern group to open a new shelter for chemically dependent, pregnant women and their children. San Diego County CU, Calif., has sponsored a "Wish Upon A Star" and raised more than $27,000 to benefit the Make-a-Wish Foundation. San Diego residents purchased paper stars for $1 at SDCCU branches to sponsor "wishes" for five special children facing life-threatening illnesses. SDCCU has assets of more than $1 billion, and has 16 branches in San Diego and Temecula. -lide@cutimes.com