DONATIONS Randolph-Brooks Federal Credit Union, Live Oak, Texas, recently donated $517,533 to support the military and their families. The funds were raised as part of the “Fisher House Challenge” campaign that Randolph-Brooks hosted. The CU kicked off the campaign by announcing a $100,000 contribution to the Fisher House Foundation and challenged the community to raise an additional $200,000, which the credit union pledged to match. Community donations totaled $217,533 and Randolph-Brooks matched $200,000. Security Service Federal Credit Union, San Antonio, held its first annual peanut butter contest to benefit the San Antonio Food Bank. The CU's over 1,100 employees competed by department to raise the most jars of peanut butter–the most requested item by Food Bank agencies. By the end of the month-long drive, more than 6,400 pounds of peanut butter in 4,054 jars had been collected, far exceeding the credit union's goal of 1,500 jars. Coming in with just over 1,000 pounds of peanut butter, the SSFCU service center at Bandera Road and Loop won the contest. New Horizons Credit Union, Mobile, Ala., and Nationwide Insurance partnered to award three, $1,000 college scholarships to area high school graduating seniors. The three students recognized for their outstanding community involvement, scholastic achievement and extracurricular activities were Kelly Caylor, Mark Wetzel and David Langham. Community Choice Credit Union, Livonia, Mich., made back-to-school shopping easier for families of students-in-need in Redford and Livonia this year with the CU's 5th annual “Backpack and School Supply Drive”. The drive was a success with donations sufficient to fill 118 backpacks with new and necessary school supplies. Service 1st Federal Credit Union, Danville, Pa., raised $15,000 at its annual golf tournament to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation, the Janet Weis Children's Hospital and the Danville Area Community Foundation. Each organization received $5,000. The 13th Annual Charity Golf Tournament was held at Frosty Valley Country Club and 123 golfers participated in the event. Major sponsors of the tournament included Koch Appraisal Service, Members 1st Federal Credit Union and Overton & Associates, Inc. St. Mary's Bank, Hudson, N.H., pledged $3,000 to the planned Hudson Senior Center to help furnish the interior of its new building upon its completion. Residents of Hudson have been working to establish a senior center for the past 14 years. The center's objective is to provide a place for seniors to benefit from a variety of educational, recreational and health conscious programs. The council plans to break ground on the new facility in the spring of 2007. Mutual Savings Credit Union, Birmingham, Ala., and Carraway Hospital joined forces to participate in the 20th Junior Achievement Bowling Classic to raise money for JA Projects in Alabama schools. Mutual Savings CU and Carraway Hospital formed a team of five bowlers who raised $864 for Junior Achievement. This is enough to provide a JA program kit to one entire Junior Achievement high school class, program kits for two elementary classes, and stickers and booklets for 25 kindergarten students. Catholic Federal Credit Union's Community Relations Committee, Saginaw, Mich., recently donated $15,000 to area 501 (c)(3) organizations. The following organizations were awarded a monetary donation: ARC Services; Bishop Untener Scholarship Fund; Child & Family Services; Child Abuse & Neglect Council; City Rescue Mission; Community Rx Support Service; Community Village; Created for Caring; Do-All, Inc.; East Side Soup Kitchen; Emmaus House of Saginaw; Ezekiel Project of Saginaw; Franciscan Poor Clare Nuns; Good Neighbors Food Pantry #2 and #3; Hidden Harvest; Holy Cross Children's Services; Old Town Bay Pantry; New Dimensions; Old Town Soup Kitchen; Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish; Priest Ministry Fund c/o Diocese of Saginaw; READ Association for Saginaw County; Saginaw Catholic Mustard Seed Foundation; Saginaw Family Childcare Network; Saginaw Survivors of Suicide; Society of the Mission Sisters of the Holy Spirit; St. Francis Home; The Children's Christmas Store; Tuscola Homeless Coalition; and Underground Railroad. In an effort to help Hancock County Sheltered Workshop renovate its front entrance to bring it up to standards with the Americans With Disabilities Act, Steel Works Federal Credit Union, Weirton, W.Va., donated $2,500 to the organization. The donation makes possible replacement of the present doors with power door openers. This will be of great benefit to workshop clients with mobility problems as well as those who use wheelchairs. Penn East Federal Credit Union, Scranton, Pa., recently donated $500 to the Abington Marketing Alliance. The funds represent Penn East's commitment at the Cezanne Sponsorship Level of the Abington Marketing Alliance Festival of the Arts. Capital Communications Federal Credit Union, Albany, N.Y., raised nearly $23,000 with its Charity Golf Tournament hosted by CAP COM Financial Services. The tournament is one of three major fundraisers held to raise money for the Capital Communications Cares Foundation. The tournament was held at Western Turnpike Golf Course in Guilderland. The tournament brings together Capital Communications members, board members, and business partners to play. The CU also donated $5,000 to the Free Medical Clinic at the Capital City Rescue Mission in Albany. The donation will help the Rescue Mission continue serving the medical needs of homeless and low-income people. ART: Scholarship.jpg CUT: E1 Financial CU recently awarded $4,000 in scholarships to deserving students. E1 Financial Credit Union, Alhambra, Calif., has honored seven winners of the 2006 E1 Finanical Scholarship Awards. One $1,000 and six $500 scholarships have been awarded to students attending 4-year public or private colleges or universities, community colleges or pursuing trade certification in a vocational or technical area. The recipients of the scholarships are: Jasmine Horton, Daniel Bellers, Tizita Mammo, Stephanie Bliss, Nicole Dew, Kyle King and Arlene Perez. MILESTONES ART: Community Choice group w/ plaque.jpg CUT: Indiana Credit Union League President John McKenzie (second from left) presented commemorative plaques from the League and CUNA at the 25th anniversary reception for Community Choice FCU. Community Choice Federal Credit Union, Indianapolis, Indiana's only credit union that was chartered specifically as a Community Development Credit Union celebrated 25 years of service to members recently. The two-day celebration marking the 25th anniversary of Community Choice began at the Historic Firehouse #2 during a reception attended by members, state legislators, Cliff Rosenthal, executive director of the National Federation of Community Development Credit Unions and Indiana League President John McKenzie. The credit union partnered with community and city representatives to celebrate the revitalization of the area by hosting an ice cream social following the dedication of Moon Block Park on the second day of the celebration. Mutual Savings Credit Union, Birmingham, Ala., recently offered two special seven percent certificate of deposit specials to celebrate 70 years of service. Orginally created to serve employees of U.S. Steel's Fairfield Works, Mutual Savings Credit Union has been serving communities since 1936. MSCU offered two special CDs: seven percent for seven months and seven percent for 12 months. ART: CEO and cake.tif CUT: United Health CU Board Chairman Tony Violanti and President/CEO Linda White proudly display a cake that was 50 years in the making. United Health Credit Union, Burlingame, Calif., recently celebrated 50 years serving members. The CU gave away 50 vacation packages and shared a birthday cake with the credit union's 50th anniversary logo with members. There was also an after-hours open house for local officials, colleagues and longtime members at the main branch. About 50 guests enjoyed a light catered meal and drinks and each received a souvenir key chain with the CU's 50th anniversary logo. Altura Credit Union, Riverside, Calif., recently reached a significant milestone–achieving $800 million in assets as of July 31, 2006. This is a $100 million increase in asset size in less than a year. Altura reached $700 million in assets as of Aug. 31, 2005. In less than 10 ears, Altura has grown from $240 million in assets. West Community Credit Union, Brentwood, Mo., celebrated its 70th anniversary recently with a '70s-themed disco party at its Brentwood branch. Credit union members and the public were invited to enjoy music food and prizes, including $70 gift cards, a digital camera, CD player and iPod. West Community also raised money at the celebration for Children's Miracle Network. Members were invited to try out a new self-serve coin counter in the lobby; West Community matched all coins deposited to donate $2,066 to CMN.