DONATIONS

Postal Credit Union, Woodbury, Minn., has lent a hand in the fight against hunger. A group of 27 PCU employees and volunteers gladly rolled up their sleeves and packed over 600 boxes of food to be distributed by Second Harvest Heartland Food Bank. Second Harvest was also presented with a check for $710 raised through PCU’s recent “skip-a-pay” auto loan promotion. For each skipped loan payment, $5 of the processing fee collected was donated to the food bank to help feed the hungry. Sunmark Federal Credit Union, Schenectady, N.Y., has donated $16,574.06 to the Bethesda House. The money was raised from Sunmark’s sixth annual charity golf classic, which was held at the Van Patten Golf Course in Clifton Park, N.Y. Hanscom Federal Credit Union, Hanscom AFB, Mass., Board Director Ray T. Phillips has teamed up with 10 year-old patient partner Andy Martin to raise funds for the Dana Farber Cancer Institute by participating in the 17th Annual Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk. Phillips runs the Boston Marathon each year to raise funds for Children’s Hospital Boston. Over 6,000 participants are expected to earn more than $4.75 million by year’s end. Funds will support Dana Farber’s world-renowned cancer research and treatment facilities. Travis Credit Union, Vacaville, Calif., has helped benefit local youth programs and tourism by participating in the eighth annual Woodland Dynamite Chili Cook-Off to benefit youth programs and Woodland tourism. Teams competed in the People’s Choice chili and salsa competition and for the International Chili Society categories for red chili, chili verde and salsa. Travis CU’s team, the Travis Chili Peppers was entered in both the People’s Choice chili and salsa contests. Washoe Credit Union, Reno, Nev., has donated $16,612.09 to the Washoe Medical Foundation to benefit the Children’s Miracle Network. Funds were raised through Washoe CU’s Credit Unions for Kids efforts which included everything from candy and bracelet sales to a “Breakfast with Santa” event. Pacific Service Credit Union, Walnut Creek, Calif., has marked the fifth year that it has been a $10,000 sponsor of Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation’s Walk to Cure Diabetes events in the Greater Bay Area. More than 6,000 people participated in 2005 Walk to Cure Diabetes events throughout the Bay Area during October to raise over $2 million for diabetes research and education. Numerica Credit Union, Spokane, Wash., has donated some 2,000 diapers and almost 20 canisters of formula to the Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery. Prior to the generous donation the Crisis Nursery had completely run out of size four and five diapers, causing them to turn children away. Houston Texas Fire Fighters Federal Credit Union, and Auto Exam Automobile Services have teamed up to host a golf tournament to benefit the Houston Fire Fighters Burned and Crippled Children’s Fund. With the help of Auto Exam, various business partners, other credit unions and Houston fire fighters, the tournament raised over $8,000.00 to help children who have been burned or injured in the Houston Area. Auto Exam Automobile Services acted as co-host for the day and its generous donation helped make the day possible. First place winners included Roger Gonzales, Archie Moss, Gilbert Tobias and Johnny Watson. CU Direct Connect, Denver, Colo., 2nd Annual Charity Golf Tournament raised over $13,500 for the Colorado Credit Union League Foundation and $6,000 for First Tee of Colorado. The event attracted 130 golfers representing credit unions from across the state and CU Direct Connect’s vendor partners. First Tee of Colorado is a World Golf Foundation initiative dedicated to providing young people of all backgrounds an opportunity to develop life-enhancing values such as honesty, integrity and sportsmanship through golf and character education. Burt Automotive matched the $3,000 raised by CU Direct Connect to bring the charity total donation to $6,000. Northwest Corporate Federal Credit Union, Portland, Ore., staffers have raised money throughout the year to help support the Caring Cabin. The Children’s Cancer Association has designed and built a Caring Cabin to welcome children with life-threatening illnesses, their caregivers, and their immediate and extended family for private weekend or week-long getaways. The first of its kind in the Western United States, the Caring Cabin is located on 24 acres of wooded land with a small private lake, just one mile from the beach in Pacific City, Oregon. Kinecta Federal Credit Union, Manhattan Beach, Calif., is giving homeless men and women a leg up with a monitor and a mouse. The credit union has donated 29 computers to the Midnight Mission in Los Angeles to support the nonprofit’s program to transition men and women from homelessness and back into society. The Mission will use some of Kinecta’s computers to assist participants in getting back into the workforce and the other half will go to the organization’s outreach crew, to help with canvassing efforts. Deere Community Federated Credit Union, Ottumwa, Iowa, has donated $25,000 to the Ottumwa Regional Health Center. This brings corporate donations to nearly $350,000 for The Courageous Journey: A Campaign for Cancer Care. The center will focus on cancer research and treatment within the local and surrounding communities. The 16,000 square- foot Cancer Center will enhance cancer care with new state-of-the-art equipment including a new linear accelerator and by bringing both medical and radiation oncology therapy under one roof. AltaOne Federal Credit Union, Ridgecrest, Calif., has donated $5,800 to the United Way of Indian Wells Valley. The proceeds will be used for the various programs supported by United Way. Funds were raised through the credit union’s Summer Skip Pay program during the months of July and August. Qualified members could skip a loan or Visa payment for a $20 fee. A portion of that fee was then donated to United Way.