PHOENIX — From Yuma to Prescott, hundreds of employees, volunteers and members of Arizona credit unions marked International Credit Union month with a high-profile "Together We Paint" project sprucing up homes of seniors and low-income families.
Indeed, when the campaign finally wound up last weekend some 60 homes will have been repainted as the participating CUs and the Arizona Credit Union System received TV and radio coverage for their work.
"Arizona credit unions have always been here to help members with home improvement loans and other financial services, but we also want to do something for seniors and families who can't afford needed home improvements," explained Scott Earl, president/CEO of ACUS.
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Armed with painting tools, cadres of CU staffers, during three weekend jaunts, descended on properties of homeowners, many elderly and disadvantaged in poor areas, to do fixup. Some homes required only a few hours to repaint while others took all day and involved several volunteers.
"It was simply wonderful to have our 60 employees, their families and volunteers show up to repaint two homes and I think that 60 is the record in the state for having the most workers among all credit unions," said Miriam Limon, communicators coordinator for AEA Federal Credit Union of Yuma.
The ACUS said it was the largest community outreach it ever performed with 17 CUs joining in.
In Phoenix, CU volunteers including many CEOs painted the homes of approximately 20 elderly and disadvantaged people.
A nomination process throughout the state identified hundreds of worthy seniors and families whose homes could use a facelift. A nominating committee narrowed the field to the 60 in Flagstaff, Phoenix, Tucson and Yuma.
The ACUS said the campaign highlighted the industry's "People Helping People" mission and demonstrated CU willingness "to improve the quality of life for the elderly and vulnerable citizens."
In Tucson, KVOA-TV, the NBC affiliate, profiled a 92-year-old woman who praised CUs for their efforts with TV clips showing CU crews painting her home and others as well.
Kellie Terhune Neely, vice president of marketing at Hughes Federal Credit Union in Tucson, said the project proved worthwhile for homeowners since "it can be embarrassing, difficult and stressful when a house needs paint but the owners are too infirm or don't have the money to do the job themselves."
A fresh coat of paint, she said "can improve the outward appearance of a home, but more importantly, it gives the owners relief from stress and a renewed sense of pride in their home."
Vantage West Credit Union, also of Tucson, said 41 employees including its President/CEO, Robert D. Ramirez, joined in the Oct. 13 painting of two homes. Project recipients did have to meet "certain low income criteria and were invited to speak to a selection committee about their life situations," said the CU.
On Tucson homes, participating CUs asked the media not to print addresses "to ensure these elderly people's privacy and security."
Beside ACUS, also in the fix-up campaign were two organizations, Reverse Mortgages USA and Lovin' Life After 50. ACUS officials said plans are to conduct a similar "Together We Paint" campaign in 2008.
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