DONATIONS

DONATIONS 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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.