Charter Oak Credit Union, Groton, Conn., announced that staff members participated in the second annual walk for the homeless. The walk was organized by CT College students and the New London Homeless Hospitality Center and sponsored by Charter Oak Federal Credit Union's Community Giving program. Over 100 people participated in the three-mile walk.

Pen Air Federal Credit Union, Pensacola, Fla., supported the Emerald Cost Honor Flight. Approximately 100 World War II veterans traveled to Washington to visit the war memorial. Pen Air Federal Credit Union President/CEO Ron Fields assisted the veterans during the trip. Fields escorted veteran Jim Brown, who served under General Patton in the invasion of Normandy. Since the Emerald Coast Honor Flight Program was created, Pen Air has contributed over $20,000 to help send veterans on the trip.

San Francisco Federal Credit Union, San Francisco, formed a team to participate in the National Brain Tumor Society's 15th annual Bay Area brain tumor walk. The team participated in the event and held bake sales at the main credit union branch to raise funds. President/CEO Steven Stapp led the team on the 5K walk. Proceeds from the walk support research and patient programs at the National Brain Tumor Society.

Coastal Federal Credit Union, Raleigh, N.C., planted a tree in front of its Wakefield branch to symbolize its partnership with the Raleigh NeighborWoods program. Coastal Federal made a $9,000 contribution to the program to continue to plant trees in neighborhoods and around the city. The donation was made in honor of Coastal members who opened up Go Green checking accounts in 2008. The credit union introduced the high-dividend checking account in January 2008, and by the end of the year, 21,000 new accounts were opened up and 9, 270 of those accounts were opened by new members.

1st Advantage Federal Credit Union, Yorktown, Va., hosted its inaugural Paws and Pals Expo at its Kiln Creek branch. All proceeds from the event benefited the Virginia Peninsula SPCA. The event featured a variety of pet products and services, a dog costume contest, local K9 demonstration, on-site pet adoption and a silent auction. Ten-year-old Taylor Diona Burrell, Miss Portsmouth Seawall's outstand preteen 2009, was at the event to bring awareness to her established platform, animal cruelty awareness and prevention. Overall, $800 was raised at the event for the SPCA.

SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union, Santa Ana, Calif., hosted a free shred day and invited members to shred and recycle their confidential documents. More than 750 members participated in the event and recycled more than 11 tons of paper. The credit union partnered with Shred Confidential to set up trucks in the credit union's parking lot. The credit union also provided members with a free lunch from Carl Jr.'s mobile restaurant.

Genisys Credit Union, Auburn Hills, Mich., was the major sponsor of the Lighthouse of Oakland County's 27th annual “Hunger Walk & Fun Run.” Several hundred people participated in the four-mile walk/run. The event also included children's activities, entertainment, refreshments, a health tent and prizes. The Hunger Walk & Fun Run is the primary fundraiser for Lighthouse Emergency Services and all proceeds from the event went toward helping the organization provide services to those in need.

Shell Federal Credit Union, Deer Park, Texas, announced that its Furthering Community Unity employee team worked for months to help build a home for a single mother and her child. The employees worked with Pasadena's Habitat for Humanity to reduce the amount of time it took to build the home from six months to four months. Shell Federal Credit Union partnered with Value Furniture to present the mother with a $3,000 house warming gift certificate.

OXFORD Federal Credit Union, Mexico, Maine, announced that it raised $1,000 from its yard sale event to donate to March for Babies and American Cancer Society's Relay for Life. OXFORD employees donated all of the items for the yard sale and community members made donations to the causes.

US Federal Credit Union, Burnsville, Minn., announced its second consecutive year sponsoring the Minnesota Lymphomathon. The Lymphomathon is a 5K walk/run and is a key fundraiser for the Lymphoma Research Foundation. US Federal sponsored the event and donated blinking lights and bottled water. US Federal employees also volunteered at the event. Over $100,000 was raised at the event for the foundation.