DONATIONS

DONATIONS Royal Credit Union, Eau Claire, Wis., recently held its first blood drive at its Corporate Center. RCU met the goal set by the American Red Cross of 35 pints of blood. Of the 35 donors, 18 were first time donors. The blood collected during this five-hour event is estimated to save over 70 lives. Memphis Area Teachers’ Credit Union, Memphis, Tenn., recently named Kimberly Woods, a teacher at Idlewild Elementary, as the latest recipient of the One Class At A Time Grant. President/CEO Carols Webb presented Woods with the grant for $500 at her school. Woods plans to upgrade her classroom library to include fiction, nonfiction, biographies and reference books to develop a wide range of genres, authors and topics for her fourth grade students. APCO Employees Credit Union, Birmingham, Ala., recently donated $8,500 to Children’s Hospital of Alabama. The CU raised the money at their second annual APCO Credit Union for Kids charity golf tournament held at Grayson Valley Country Club. Over 70 golfers participated and 35 sponsors were involved in this year’s tournament. This is the ninth consecutive year the CU has worked to benefit Children’s Hospital. Arrowhead Credit Union, San Bernardino, Calif., recently completed its annual employee fundraising campaign to benefit the Arrowhead United Way and raised more than $53,000. The theme for this year’s campaign was: “Grow our commitment and grow our community.” All employees were encouraged to participate with creative fundraising activities in addition to donating directly through payroll deduction. Some departments reached their goals by holding raffles for Disneyland tickets, gift baskets and other events. Others held bake sales, taco lunches and even a boutique with hand-crafted scarves and doggy sweaters. Mutual Savings Credit Union, Birmingham, Ala., made a donation of goods and funds to First Light, Inc. of Birmingham. The CU donated $500 worth of goods, such as toiletries, medication, food, cleaning supplies, paper products, bedding and storage bins. MSCU then presented First Light, Inc. with a monetary donation of $1,000. First Light is a center for homeless women and children in downtown Birmingham. It provides emergency shelter and permanent housing for the chronically homeless who suffer from serious mental illness. It also offers day programming including art therapy, music therapy, mental health support, bible studies and life skills programs. MacDill Federal Credit Union, Tampa, Fla., recently donated umbrellas to grade schoolers at Tinker Elementary on MacDill Air Force Base. The umbrellas will help keep the children dry on rainy days as they walk to portable classrooms while a new school building is under construction. Pen Air Federal Credit Union, Pensacola, Fla., presented Sacred Heart Foundation with $5,000 for the Children’s Miracle Network. Funds raised go towards medical services and research for children health issues and pick up some of the expenses to keep costs down for children with major medical needs. The $5,000 was raised from Pen Air FCU staff selling candy, cards, and other fundraising activities. The CU also donated $1,000 to be used toward equipment and funds that support our military through the USO. The donation helped provide support for programs that assist deployed personnel and their dependents and support Thanksgiving and Christmas programs for the enlisted personnel at home and abroad. Public Service Credit Union, Romulus, Mich., has selected four students from Romulus High School to participate in its “Financially Made” program, a financial education/saving program aimed at turning teens into financially-savvy consumers. The winners were given a reception at the Eagle Branch located inside the high school. The program combines matching deposits with financial education in hopes of encouraging students to begin–and continue–practicing good financial habits. Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union, St. Paul, Minn., hosted its Fourth Annual Foundation Silent Auction recently and raised over $14,000 to support the Foundation’s mission: promoting financial literacy. Affinity Plus employees across the state worked for months to accumulate over $30,000 in items. Auction items were donated by vendor partners and community businesses and included local sporting event tickets, spa certificates, various hotel stays and other merchandise. This year was the first time the silent auction was held online using an eBay-style bidding system, which was one reason the member participation was the highest ever. Redwood Credit Union, Santa Rosa, Calif., recently completed its 2006 United Way campaign with a record contribution of over $57,000, exceeding its goal of $54,600. Redwood CU employees and volunteer officials participate in the United Way campaign each year to help raise funds for nonprofit organizations throughout the North Bay. This year, the CU raised $55,742 for the United Way of Sonoma-Mendocino-Lake, and an additional $1,726 for the United Way of the Bay Area. The CU offered several unique incentives to encourage employees to contribute, including weekly prize raffles, casual days, a company lunch and a car wash where the CU’s executives washed employees cars. Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union, Lowell, Mass., recently held its first annual Turkey Day Bake Sale. The sale was held to support the Credit Unions of Massachusetts Kids at Heart program for Children’s Hospital Boston. JDCU is again sponsoring a Children’s Patient Partner, Maggie King, and her runner, Joan Strodel, who will be running in the 2007 Boston Marathon. JDCU employees volunteered to bake goods for the sale held at each JDCU branch location. JDCU members and employees were invited to purchase the goods for the holiday. The sale was a huge success and all proceeds were donated to the Kids at Heart program. Air Academy Federal Credit Union, Colorado Spring, Colo., raised over $11,900 for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and was named the largest corporate walk team with 76 registered walkers. AAFCU sold paper shoes for $1.00 each at all 10 branches and formed a corporate walk team to raise funds for the JDRF’s Walk to Cure Diabetes. AAFCU was a Bronze level sponsor of this year’s walk contributing $2,500 and also raised $9,435.20 from shoe sales and walker pledges. All proceeds were donated to the JDRF to fund important research that will hopefully lead to a cure. People’s Alliance Federal Credit Union, Hauppauge, N.Y., worked along with its members to donate new, unwrapped toys to the Marty Lyons Foundation toy drive. The credit union also raffled a giant holiday stocking filled with toys. The raffle brought in over $600 for the foundation. People’s Alliance has been bringing holiday joy to children with terminal or life threatening illnesses and their families for many years by working with the Marty Lyons Foundation. Several of the PAFCU’s staff members also volunteer their time to help out at the foundation’s holiday party. Eaton Family Credit Union, Euclid, Ohio, recently offered holiday cheer to residents of Nottingham Home and the Euclid Hunger Center. Since 1998, Eaton Family CU has provided a holiday party and gifts to the special needs adults that live in Nottingham Home. Personalized gifts and a pizza party provided by the credit union highlight the event. The CU also provided assistance to the Euclid Hunger Center. The CU’s branches are convenient drop points for cash and nonperishable donations. ART: check_press.jpg CUT: John Kumpel, Sperry FCU board chairman, presents $1,000 to The Salvation Army for the Nassau County Christmas Campaign Fund. Sperry Federal Credit Union, Garden City Park, N.Y., held its holiday gift drive for children in the community recently. Gifts of toys and clothing were given to The Salvation Army and the CU also donated $1,000 to put towards the Army’s Nassau County Christmas Campaign Fund Drive. Altier Credit Union, Tempe, Ariz., donated $4,624.44 to Special Olympics Arizona, the organization’s primary beneficiary. Altier CU reaised the money for the holiday gift baskets through a raffle designed by the organization’s “Partners Team” program. Throughout the month of December, the Partners Team encouraged employees to volunteer and create festive gift baskets. In the end, 13 baskets ranging from $50-$475 in value were raffled off for $1 a ticket. More than 2,000 raffle tickets were sold and the CU matched $2,000 to the raised funds. ART: Angel Tree 2006.jpg CUT: Steve Garces and Monica Henao gather the record number of gifts donated by MATCU employees for the Salvation Army Angel Tree program. Memphis Area Teachers’ Credit Union, Memphis, Tenn., recently had its employees set a new record this year in the number of angels adopted in the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program. The holidays were brighter for 49 “angels” in the area. More than 200 gifts were gathered and organized for the 49 adopted angels, consisting of 29 children and 20 senior citizens. MATCU has participated in the Angel Tree program for the past seven years and considers the event a tradition. ART: CFC Photo.jpg CUT: Employees of American Eagle FCU present 22 computers to Jacob Komar and Alicja Komar of the CFC. American Eagle Federal Credit Union, East Hartford, Conn., has donated 22 Micron computers, 65 monitors and other technology accessories to the nonprofit organization Computers for Communities based in Burlington. The donated equipment is part of the scheduled replacement of computer workstations at the CU’s 16 branches over the next four months. The CU worked very closely with 14-year-old Jacob Komar, founder and director of CFC and a student at the University High School in Hartford, to coordinate this donation. ART: Keys FCU Peary Court tea…2006.jpg CUT: Keys FCU was the highest bidder on a tree donated and decorated by local businesses for its Peary Court lobby. Keys Federal Credit Union, Key West, Fla., proudly co-sponsored the 2006 ReMARCable Christmas Tree & Celebrity Signed Ornament Auction to benefit the Monroe Association for Retarded Citizens. The CU was also the highest bidder on one of the 13 ornately decorated trees donated and decorated by local businesses for its Peary Court lobby. ART: Chris_Kerecman_with_Mayor…aigosa.jpg CUT: CCU’s Senior Vice President Chris Kerecman dressed as Santa to give children at the Toy Giveaway their gifts. California Credit Union, Watts, Calif., sponsored the 16th Annual Parents of Watts Christmas Toy Giveaway at the School Readiness Center in Los Angeles. Several hundred inner-city children were given the opportunity to eat lunch and receive presents from CCU Senior Vice President Chris Kerecman dressed as Santa, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, and LAUSD Superintendent of Schools David Brewer. CCU’s support for the event included the purchase of new bicycles and other toys for the excited third graders. CCU also sent seven staff volunteers to help distribute toys and serve hot dogs to the kids. Greater TEXAS Federal Credit Union, Austin, Texas, helped bring hope to families this holiday season as a sponsor of KGSR’s Starathon. GTFCU helped raise $4,138 in four hours at its North Lamar main location. The event benefited the Austin Christmas Bureau and helped them get contributions for over $13,400 in one day by taking monetary donations and new or gently used items. Some people even helped out by adopting families for which they would provide some much needed Christmas gifts. CommonWealth One Federal Credit Union, Alexandria, Va., collected toys for the Community Partners for Children toy drive. This was the fourth year CommonWealth One participated in CPC’s toy drive. The collected toys were distributed at CPC’s holiday party where parents select gifts for their children. The kids are entertained with face painting and other fun activities. The CPC is a nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting children in need from newborn to age 18. ART: NEPedandSSStaffwpatientemi.jpg CUT: Eight-year old MacKenzi Honeycutt opened the boxes donated by SSCCU and selected the first book. Southern Select Community Credit Union, Kannapolis, N.C., donated nearly 200 books to Jeff Gordon Children’s Hospital. The books were donated by Southern Select members and friends. The widely varied titles were selected to entertain patients up to age 18 during visits at NorthEast Medical Center, where the children’s hospital is located. ART: shodair2.png CUT: Rocky Mountain CU staff members celebrate the success of their gift giving with Shodair representative Renee Hofeldt. Rocky Mountain Credit Union, Helena, Mont., supplied children in residency at Shodair Children Hospital with Christmas gifts, as part of an ongoing partnership with CMN and the hospital. Hospital representatives provided a “needs” list for those children staying in the residential care units at Shodair and in a first year effort, staff and board members provided presents and cash gifts to make the holidays brighter for the kids. ART: Arch Society.jpg CUT: Georgia FCU’s “Archie” and Jason Halperin, assistant vice president and UGA branch manager, presented $500 to Tom Cochran, founder of The Arch Society, and Brian Dunn, president. Georgia Federal Credit Union, Athens, Ga., recently sponsored a large bulldog (through the “We Let The Dawgs Out” program) and dedicated its bulldog “Archie” in honor of The Arch Society, a UGA student service organization. The Arch Society is a unique student organization for University of Georgia upperclassmen. This group provides service to the University as official hosts and goodwill ambassadors. The CU contributed $500 to the group’s success. ART: silver spring croppsed.jpg CUT: These were just some of the items dropped off at the MAFCU Silver Springs Branch for Stepping Stones Shelter. Mid-Atlantic Federal Credit Union, Germantown, Md., recently helped two organizations, the Stepping Stones Shelter and the Shepherd’s Table Holiday Gift Bag Program. The CU helped Stepping Stones Shelter by collecting canned goods at the CU’s Silver Spring Branch. The CU also purchased enough Thanksgiving fixings to feed 25 people and donated the food to the shelter. MAFCU helped Shepherd’s Table by placing boxes in each of its four branches as well as in its headquarters building and encouraged both credit union members and staff to donate items for the gift bags. Royal Credit Union, Eau Claire, Wis., donated over 1,140 bears and over 1,750 pounds of food during the Holiday Food & Bear Drive. These totals are tripled compared to last year. RCU volunteers picked up and kept track of the donated items from each RCU office. Donated items were delivered to community food panties and the stuffed bears were distributed to children in the local communities.