DONATIONS

Denali Alaskan Federal Credit Union, Anchorage, Alaska, contributed more than $4,200 to the Children’s Miracle Network. This is Denai Alaskan Federal Credit Union’s third year participating in the Children’s Miracle Network annual fundraising event. Redwood Credit Union, Santa Rosa, Calif., recently provided $5,000 as a premier donor for student scholarships at the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Sonoma County’s 18th Annual Scholarship Awards Gala. Eleven students from schools across Sonoma County were awarded over $20,000 in scholarships. RCU’s $5,000 contribution was generously matched by the Schultz Foundation for a total of $10,000. Memphis Area Teachers’ Credit Union, Memphis, Tenn., recently helped another lifelong resident of New Orleans find a permanent home after the tragic losses due to the 2005 hurricanes. The Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati and MATCU, one of their member institutions in the Fifth District, have helped make Sharlene Williams a homeowner. Through the New Neighbors Program, MATCU is proud to have Williams call her new house in Memphis, home. The New Neighbors Program provides funds in the form of direct grants, in an effort to financially assist those who may be displaced due to the devastating effects of the 2005 hurricanes. Mutual Savings Credit Union, Birmingham, Ala., recently supported its communities with combined donations of over $5,000 to Birmingham’s local chapters of Children’s Miracle Network and United Cerebral Palsy. MSCU presented Children’s Miracle Network with $5,000 at its annual meeting. The donation will go toward helping hospitals treat over 17 million children with various diseases and illnesses. Children’s Miracle Network impacts more children around the globe than any other children’s organization. MSCU also participated in United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Birmingham’s Casual Day. Nine of Mutual Saving’s 11 branches participated in the event, raising a total of $997 for UCP. The funds raised for UCP will go toward providing preschool education, physical and occupational therapies, supported employment and independent living skills for people with disabilities in the Birmingham area. Barksdale Federal Credit Union, Bossier City, La., recently partnered with KTBS3, KPXJ21 and the Salvation Army for the ArkLaTex Summertime Fan Drive. The Bossier Council on Aging is in desperate need of approximately 200 to 300 fans for the elderly who cannot afford to purchase their own. In order to help the BCOA, Barksdale Federal held a car wash where donations were accepted and the employees raised $685 towards the purchase of fans for the elderly. Barksdale Federal matched the donations and over 100 fans were purchased. Redstone Federal Credit Union, Huntsville, Ala., recently awarded a $2,000 scholarship to eight students from Alabama A&M University, Wallace State Community College, The University of Alabama, Athens State University, Calhoun Community College, J.F. Drake State Technical College, Oakwood College, and The University of Alabama in Huntsville. The students were recognized at a dinner held at the Huntsville Museum of Art. This year there were 134 applicants who submitted an application, transcript, letters of recommendation, a listing of extracurricular and community activities, and an essay. This year’s essay topic was “Volunteerism–the Credit Union, the Community and Me.” Virginia Credit Union, Richmond, Va., has awarded $62,500 in college scholarships to 25 student members as part of its annual scholarship program. Winners of $62,500 Dorothy J. Hall Scholarships were selected based on scholastic achievement, community service and extracurricular activities, hours devoted to work, and an essay. Virginia CU has presented more than $350,000 in scholarships since 1991 when its program began. Dorothy “Dot” Hall, for whom the scholarship is named, joined the credit union in 1957 as a bookkeeper and worked her way up to president. Hall retired in 1999 after a 42-year career. San Francisco Chapter credit unions, Jones Methodist Credit Union and Spectrum Federal Credit Union, volunteered at their local food bank in an effort to stop hunger in San Francisco. The group of volunteers sorted and boxed over 3,750 pounds of tomatoes, cabbage and nectarines. The fruits and vegetables will feed over 1,500 Bay Area residents. A group of Spectrum FCU volunteers, made up of CU staff, family and friends, worked together to box and sort 6,600 pounds of oranges that will feed over 2,600 Bay Area residents.