"Sergeant and Mrs. Brett had been looking to purchase a new home since his return from his third tour of duty in Iraq," said First Citizens'. "Because of his scheduled separation from the military next January, they had difficulty securing a conventional mortgage from financial institutions with military affiliations."

Sgt. Brett said his real estate agent found out about the Home for the Brave program "and the rest is a whirlwind history that has us moving into a brand new home in East Freetown, only two weeks after applying."

LGE's Collins to
Retire in December

MARIETTA, Ga. — After leading LGE Community Credit Union, formerly known as Lockheed Georgia Employees' FCU for some 13 years, President/CEO Edwin J. Collins, will retire effective Dec. 31, 2008.

Current Executive Vice President/Chief Financial Officer Chris A. Leggett has been tapped as the new president/CEO. Before joining the LGE executive team in the fall of 2007, Leggett was president/CEO of First Coast Community Credit Union. Prior to that, he held positions as director of national sales for PSCU Financial Services and as chief financial officer for First Florida Credit Union.

In a letter to the employees announcing the change, Board Chairman Howell K. Teasley stated, "Ed has steered us through some major changes in the marketplace, and we will forever be indebted to him for positioning us so well to move forward as LGE Community Credit Union."

Collins, who joined the credit union in 1984, was given the lifetime achievement award in 2006 by the Georgia Credit Union League for his efforts in advancing the credit union movement. He began his career in 1964, working in various positions for the NCUA. In 1984 he joined the credit union as vice president/chief financial officer and was promoted to president/CEO in 1995.

Collins has also served as the chairman of Cooperative Service Inc., a statewide credit union service organization that processes 90% of all share draft clearings for credit unions of Georgia. He was appointed to the Filene Research Institute's Research Council and has served on the CUNA governmental affairs committee and the renaissance committee and NAFCU's communications and information committee. He has also served as Chairman of SWIRL LLC, a limited partnership that owns four service centers in the state of Georgia.

Vantage CU Educator
Is 'Special Ambassador'

ST. LOUIS — Vantage Credit Union Community Education Specialist Rachel Parrent has been recognized as a special ambassador by the Special School District.

Parrent's unique teaching style, attentive demeanor, and the special rapport she built with students at Neuwoehner Elementary School earned her the nomination from their teacher Patti Bubash.

"The students at Neuwoehner provide a rewarding challenge for me. I enjoyed educating them on matters of personal finance and am honored to be recognized by the Special School District as a 2008 special ambassador," Parrent said.

The special ambassador award is presented to community members who demonstrate an extraordinary commitment to the students or staff of the district. Six individuals and four groups were chosen as this year's recipients.

Parrent coordinates Vantage CU's Money Matters educational program, which promotes financial literacy in the schools and communities served by the credit union. Money Matters is a free service offered by Vantage and provides financial education presentations and materials to students, teachers and community groups on personal finance topics such as saving, budgeting, credit and checking.

Clackamas Federal Gets
Artful Business Award

MILWAUKIE, Ore. — The Clackamas County Arts Alliance has presented Clackamas Federal Credit Union with the 2008 artful business award.

The award recognizes an organization's exemplary and outstanding efforts to support, develop and preserve arts and culture in Clackamas County.

This year CFCU is being honored for displaying local artwork in its McLoughlin branch and for its history of supporting the arts throughout the county.

"We strive to support our community in many ways, and showcasing the work of local artists is an important part of the effort," said CFCU CEO Diann Owen-Gaines. "Our employees like it and our members say they really enjoy it."

Owen-Gaines said CFCU's newest facility on McLoughlin Blvd. in Milwaukie features a series of woodblock prints by Renee Ugrin, a well-known artist in the Pacific Northwest. Owen-Gaines said CFCU looks forward to displaying the work of other artists this year as a result of the credit union's continuing relationship with the Arts Alliance.

The Clackamas County Arts Alliance provided Ugrin's work to CFCU as part of its art in public spaces program. This program features a rotating schedule of exhibits of original artwork that is installed in various county locations by the artist and Alliance staff on a quarterly schedule.

Whatcom CU Donates to
Children's Museum

BELLINGHAM, Wash. — Whatcom Educational Credit Union has recently donated $50,000 to the campaign for the arts to benefit the new Whatcom Children's Museum building.

WECU's grant will fully fund one permanent Rainwater Harvest exhibition in the new museum building. He leading edge exhibit will demonstrate how the building's roof design captures and utilizes rainwater and decreases water consumption. A section of the roof will be dedicated to Rainwater Harvest while a separate area will be covered with a living green roof.

"WECU has demonstrated its commitment to green building by constructing all our new branches to leadership in energy and environmental design silver standards," said WECU President/CEO Wayne Langei. "Our grant to the campaign for the arts is a way for us to invest in environmentally responsible public facilities as well as support creative educational opportunities."

In an effort to incorporate education into every corner of the new facility, the rainwater exhibit will be part of the family rest rooms, one of which is also funded by WECU's grant.

The credit union's donation will directly benefit the more than 57,000 children who visit the museum each year.

Lafayette Federal CU Aids
Capital Food Bank Drive

KENSINGTON, Md. — Lafayette Federal Credit Union has teamed up with Mamma Lucia Restaurants to help the Capital Area Food Bank end hunger in the local community.

The two organizations raised more than $20,000 during the Inaugural Charity Golf Tournament at the Whiskey Creek Golf Club in Ijamsville, Md.

"We are pleased and proud to be part of the Capital Area Food Bank's efforts to help feed children, seniors and families suffering from hunger in our community," said LFCU President/CEO B. John Farmakides. "With just a $1 donation, the food bank can supply three meals to those in need. That means that through our efforts, we were able to supply more than 60,000 meals help the fight against hunger."

More than 100 golfers, 34 sponsors and numerous volunteers participated in the event.

The Capital Area Food Bank is the largest public nonprofit hunger and nutrition education resource in the Washington metropolitan area. Each year the food bank distributes more than 20 million pounds of food.