DONATIONS

South Florida Educational Federal Credit Union, Miami, Fla., recently awarded 15, four-year scholarships to graduating high school seniors. Each year, South Florida Educational FCU awards 15 graduating seniors with a Florida Prepaid College Scholarship. With the escalating costs of a secondary education, today’s value for a four-year scholarship can exceed $40,000. Since the program’s inception, South Florida Educational FCU has awarded 159 scholarships. Mid-Atlantic Federal Credit Union, Germantown, Md., recently announced the winners of its “Soccer Saves” promotional drawing for three $50 savings bonds. The drawing was held as part of the CU’s ongoing partnership with the Soccer Association of Montgomery. MAFCU partnered with the Soccer Association of Montgomery earlier this year to sponsor the Pre-Kicks soccer program for children ages three to five and distributed information on youth savings accounts to hundreds of soccer kids. During the summer months, children who wore their soccer shirts into one of MAFCU’s four branches were entered into the drawing. The winning entries were William Scales, Taylan Webster and Katerina Peters. United Teletech Financial Federal Credit Union, Tinton Falls, N.J., recently had employees, members, friends and families raise more than $9,000 for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation’s through its Annual Walk for the Cure. In additional to walk sponsorships, United Teletech Financial branches raised money by selling paper sneakers and bottles of water. The Arizona Credit Union System, Phoenix, raised over $9,000 for the Children’s Miracle Network and Credit Unions for Kids with its 15th annual softball tournament. The money raised through the generosity of the teams, sponsors and raffle ticket sales will benefit the Children’s Hospital and Tucson Medical Center. The final game featured TruWest Credit Union #2 versus Desert Schools FCU #1 with TruWest coming out the victor. This year’s “Spirit Award” was presented to Hughes Federal Credit Union for demonstrating the most enthusiasm along with selling the most raffle tickets. Coming in second in raffle ticket sales was SunWest FCU. Maine’s credit unions marked the start of the 5th Annual Maine Credit Unions’ Ending Hunger Walking Tour with a check for $5,000, the largest, single-day contribution to the Tour since it began. This year’s Tour began at GPM Credit Union, South Portland, Maine, the credit union that raised the most money for the cause in 2005. The Walk is an effort to build awareness about the problem of hunger in Maine during the month of November, which has been designated as Ending Hunger month. Brenda Davis, executive director of Cross Roads Ministries, is walking across the state on a month-long journey that will end in Old Town. Maine’s credit unions have pledged to contribute $20,000 through the Tour. Davis welcomes anyone to join her walking in each community. In addition, a food pantry in each of the 47 communities the Tour visits will receive a contribution from Maine’s credit unions. Education Community Credit Union, Kalamazoo, Mich., officially sponsored and presented $500 annual scholarship awards to Western Michigan University’s Homecoming King and Queen during halftime ceremonies at Waldo Stadium recently. Wright-Patt Credit Union, Fairborn, Ohio, presented the Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Miami Valley Region with $16,000 from their 5th annual THE Golf Outing, which raised $6,000 more than the 2005 outing. WPCU selected Ronald McDonald House Charities as the charity for their annual golf event because RMHC continues to help so many Ohio families in crisis. RMHC of the Miami Valley Region supports families with children receiving medical care at The Children’s Medical Center in Dayton and is one of five houses in the nation that does not charge these families to stay. Northwest Community Credit Union, Springfield, Ore., recently raised more than $2,690 for several nonprofit agencies throughout Oregon. During the fundraiser, NWCU donated $5 to a number of local community organizations every time a customer at any branch opened a new account, including: CDs, checking accounts, money market accounts, mortgage loans, auto loans, or home equity lines of credit. Each of NWCU’s 13 branches partnered with a local nonprofit organization to kick-off the fundraiser with an open house event. The open houses celebrated the positive work being done by nonprofit community organizations throughout the area. At each event, representatives from the local nonprofits were on-site to display their services and interact with NWCU customers. Credit Union of Ohio, Columbus, Ohio, recently raised $700 for the Children’s Miracle Network by helping members warm up with soup. Members stopping by to take care of their financial needs enjoyed a variety of different soups prepared by CU employees. Members could also purchase CMN Miracle Balloons. Donations went to the Children’s Miracle Network and all proceeds go to the Columbus Children’s Hospital. Insight Financial Credit Union, Orlando, Fla., recently presented $20,000 to the American Cancer Society during the 2006 “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer” walk for a cure. Insight Financial was privileged to be a flagship sponsor for the event, with a majority of its contribution coming from member and employee donations. This is the third year that Insight Financial employees have participated in the “Making Strides” walk. Chartway Federal Credit Union’s We Promise Foundation, Virginia Beach, Va., raised $350,000 through a series of events to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Eastern Virginia. Since 1999, Chartway and its We Promise Foundation have raised more than $1.23 million for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, helping grant the wishes of 245 children. In addition to its 8th Annual Charity Golf Classic, the We Promise Foundation presented its inaugural “Diamonds in the Sky Gala”–a black-tie event that attracted nearly 300 guests. Apple Federal Credit Union, Fairfax, Va., recently offered financial support to the Virginia Teacher of the Year Program to help make possible the Commonwealth’s recognition of eight, 2007 regional teacher honorees. One of these educators was recently selected as Virginia’s Teacher of the Year and will go on to participate in the National Teacher of the Year program. Apple FCU has received extensive recognition for its sponsorships of education initiatives such as its successful Student-Run Branch Program. Northwest Corporate Federal Credit Union, Portland, Ore., put together gift baskets and donations for the Credit Union for Kids Auction–Zoofari for Kids. The auction was held at the Oregon Zoo. The auction kicked off the four-year, $2 million fundraising campaign.