Matadors Federal Credit Union, Northridge, Calif., has donated several computers to the Topeka Avenue Elementary School here. According to Keith Lobert, Technology Coordinator for the school, very little money is available from the school district for these types of purchases. Matadors FCU contacted Lobert to find out how to best help the students here. The computers are available to students ranging from kindergarten to fifth grade and will be used in both regular classrooms and in the computer lab. MFCU has $73 million in assets and serves 12,954 members. Twin City Co-ops Federal Credit Union, Roseville, Minn., has sponsored Artwork, a summer employment program for young artists. Sixty Ramsey County youth, half of whom are from low-income families, aged 14-21 will be employed as apprentice visual artists. The apprentices were selected based on their portfolios and interviews. ArtsWork's goals include providing meaningful employment for youth, promoting downtown St. Paul vitality; and mentoring youth interested in careers in the arts. By 2005, the ArtsWork program is projected to employ some 600 apprentices. Community Credit Union, Plano, Texas, has raised $41,780.52 for the March of Dimes. CCU's total donation was a result of three separate fundraising efforts including lobby Tennis Shoe sales for a total $24,875.98; employee Blue Jeans for Babies days for a total of $8585.06; and employee Walker Dollars donations for $8,319.48. More than 75 employees participated during the WalkAmerica-a-thon. First Financial Federal Credit Union, Lutherville, Md., has donated a $30,000 grant to benefit the Early Learning Center at Carroll Community College in Westminster, Maryland. The college will use a portion of the grant to continue to support the First Financial FCU Child Care Fee Assistance Fund, which provides annual grants to financially deserving parents of students enrolled in the Early-learning Center. The remaining funds will be distributed to purchase equipment and education materials. Funding for the grant was made possible through FFFCU's VISA credit card program and KidsFirst Fund. Through the KidsFirst Fund, a portion of all member purchases made with a FFFCU VISA credit card are directed to benefit children in the credit union community. Langley Federal Credit Union, Hampton, Va., has raised $1,445 for the Peninsula Habitat for Humanity, Inc. During a live remote with local radio station EAGLE 97, listeners were asked to stop by LFCU headquarters to make a donation and enjoy food and radio personalities Jimmy Ray and Jay. Knoxville Post Office Credit Union, Tenn., has donated wireless phones to the Phone for Life program, sponsored by the Community Coalition on Family Violence. Phones are de-activated, reprogrammed to call 911 and handed to victims of domestic violence. The phones often become lifelines for victims allowing them to call for help in an emergency situation. CommonWealth One, Harrisonburg, Va., has raised over $500 during Walk for Life to benefit the March of Dimes. The funds will benefit various wellness programs for premature infants. CommonWealth One FCU has $164 million in assets and serves 35,000 members Martinsville DuPont Credit Union, Va., has raised over $19,000 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Members and staff were integral to the amount of money raised. Staff members who raised $400 received a day off as a fundraising incentive. MDCU has $$179 million in assets and serves 26,251 members. Geismar Complex Federal Credit Union, La., has donated $2,500 to a Habitat for Humanity initiative that has begun in Ascension Parish here. Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit worldwide ecumenical Christian organization dedicated to eliminating substandard housing. It brings together people in need with resources and volunteers to build simple, decent houses. The homes are sold at no profit, through no-interest loans to families that could not otherwise purchase a home. The organization must raise between $45,000 to $50,000 before it can break ground. Howmet Credit Union, Whitehall, Mich., has raised over $3,700 for the American Cancer Society. Funds were raised through the sale of paper feet, ACS Bears, luminaries, baked goods and hot dogs. HCU has $57 million in assets and serves 10,292 members. Massachusetts Credit Union League, Southborough, has donated over 15,000 books to 44 non-profit agencies in 38 cities. Thousands of homeless children throughout Massachusetts will now be able curl up and enjoy a good book . Forty-three credit unions joined forces with the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless to collect any children's books new or used. In preparation for the event, the League provided lobby posters to all participating credit unions that expressed the theme for the book drive "Every Child Should Have a Book to Read." Credit unions also received sample newsletter articles and press releases to help them publicize the event. The book drive got a huge jump-start through the efforts of Houghton Mifflin Employees Federal Credit Union. The sponsor of that credit union, the Houghton Mifflin Publishing Company generously donated 3,000 new children's books to the cause. Other credit unions were equally resourceful in their efforts to collect books. MAX Federal Credit Union, Montgomery, Ala., has awarded Ed and Gayla Strickland of Elmore, Alabama a free trip for two to Hawaii. As part of an auto loan promotion, members and nonmembers could register for the free trip at any of the MAX Preferred Auto Dealerships when looking for a new or used vehicle. The trip includes five nights at the Outrigger Reef on the beach of Waikiki, airfare, car rental, and a lei greeting. MAX FCU serves 90,000 members and has $493 million in assets. GHS Federal Credit Union, Binghamton, N.Y., President/CEO Steve Gardner didn't mind wearing women's pajamas and fuzzy slippers out in public because his credit union helped raise more than $4,000 for the American Cancer Society. This past summer, Gardner wore his outfit to the ACS Relay for Life track as part of a deal he made with his staff if they surpassed the $3,000 fundraising goal. The staff held various events including a SMASH Cancer stress-reliever. For a $1 donation or $2 donation to include a Polaroid photo, participants smashed a used car with a huge sledgehammer. Team GHS also raised funds through a putting contest. For a $1 donation, golf amateurs attempted a hole-in-one and a chance to win prizes. GHS FCU serves nearly 20,000 members and has $58 million in assets.