SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The Golden 1 Credit Union has collected $61,488 for Gulf Coast hurricane relief. The funds will go to the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army. "The total included a significant contribution by St. Michael's Episcopal Day School of Sacramento," said Golden 1 President/CEO Teresa A. Halleck. The school's fund-raising drive was spearheaded by eighth-graders Natalie Dreyer and Student Council President David Wilson. The credit union had pledged to match donations dollar for dollar. The school's check totaled $2,336. Along with St. Michael's contribution, The Golden 1′s total included employee and member cash donations, the value of vacation time `given back' by employees, and matching funds approved by the board of directors. The credit union also established a portal on its Web site, www.golden1.com, with an informational page and direct links to the Red Cross and the Salvation Army. Visitors were invited to make direct contributions to those organizations. Pledges made through the Web site are in addition to the credit union's total. In addition family pets that were abandoned or lost during the hurricanes were not forgotten. The Golden 1′s Accounting Department raised an additional $300 through a bake sale to benefit the Louisiana Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. "Service to others reflects the credit union's philosophy," said Halleck. "In addition to our donation, many Golden 1 employees have opted to `adopt' the family of a Louisiana credit union employee whose home was lost."