Langley Federal Credit Union, Newport News, Va., provided a grant to teacher Eleanor Joy Barclay to open Yates Elementary School's student-run bookstore called Starbooks. The grant was used to teach students the components of a retail store operation such as management, inventory control, accounting, cash handling, advertising and sales promotion, and security. Third through fifth grade students were allowed to apply for positions in the bookstore and had to complete a job application and interview. Each year, Langley awards twenty grants of $250 each for local schools to teach financial literacy in the classroom.
Gateway Metro Credit Union, St. Louis, presented a check to Our Lady of Guadalupe School in Cool Valley for $2,800 to help maintain the education the children receive. They money was raised exclusively by Gateway employees. Gateway employees have provided financial education and responsibility coursework to all grade levels at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish since Gateway absorbed the smaller parish credit union in 2006. Also, employees have made other donations and began a Hispanic Outreach Program to the Hispanic members of the parish. Our Lady of Guadalupe School is the only elementary school in the entire state of Missouri with a student-assisted credit union branch location in the school.
United Educational Credit Union, Battle Creek, Mich., awarded a $500 Bright Ideas Partnership grant to Jennings Elementary in Quincy for the DK-5 podcasting project. The grant was applied for by teacher Mellissa Connin to assist in the purchase of equipment to create podcasts in the classroom. Students will create podcasts involving areas of classroom study to reinforce the information they have learned and to learn the practical applications of podcasting.
MidSouth Federal Credit Union, Monroe, Ga., provided an award check to T.G. Scott Elementary School teacher Angela Dungan. Dungan was recognized as the 2008 system wide Teacher of the Year by the Monroe County Board of Education Board Members.
Pagoda Federal Credit Union, Laureldale, Pa., teamed up with the city of Reading to participate in the American Cancer Society Relay for Life. A basket bingo was organized as the main fundraiser, and the team raised $7,692 for the American Cancer Society. The entire team also participated in fundraising efforts with coin collection buckets, online collections, monthly bake sales and volunteered at the Sovereign Center food stands. The Relay for Life event took place on May 2 and 3 at the Reading Phillies First Energy Stadium.
Consumers Credit Union, Kalamazoo, Mich., announced that its staff participated in the Junior Achievement Bowlathon along with 30 other teams. A total of $21,000 was raised to support JA programs in local schools and Consumers bowlers contributed over $1,000. All funds will be used to support curriculum materials, volunteer recruitment and training efforts to deliver JA programs about entrepreneurship, financial literacy and work readiness to students in grades K-12.
First Community Credit Union, Beloit, Wis., presented a check for $750 to the Latino Service Providers Coalition. LSPC was created several years ago and aims to foster consistent and informative communication between members of the coalition so that duplication of services can be eliminated and civic participation from the Latino community can be encouraged.
Credit Union ONE, Ferndale, Mich., sponsored the 21st annual Purtan's Salvation Army Radionthon in partnership with WOMC radio station. The radiothon benefited the Salvation Army's Bed and Bread Club. During the 16-hour radiothon, Credit Union ONE along with area businesses and celebrities presented checks to Dick Purtan that were donated to the Salvation Army's Bed and Bread Club that helps feed and shelter needy people in the Detroit area. This year $2,310,000 was raised. Credit Union ONE established a phone bank to receive the radiothon's phone call overflow and volunteers from the credit union managed the phones and took pledges. Over $276,000 in additional revenues were generated through the phone bank. Credit Union ONE also donated $5,000, which was generated by employees, credit union members and corporate sponsorships, to the cause.
