Navy Federal Credit Union and Gulf Winds Federal Credit Unionhave been playing important roles in the BP oil spillrestoration.

The $40 billion Navy said last week that while BP turned asideits direct offer to provide volunteers for beach cleanup, theVienna, Va.-based CU with major operations in Pensacola took partin key Chamber of Commerce programs providing assistance tobusinessmen and others suffering losses. Navy has also helped localgroups seeking to stem the loss of tourist dollars.

Meanwhile, the $350 million Gulf Winds FCU of Pensacola, Fla.,reported its matching donation campaign to assist the WildlifeSanctuary of Northwest Florida topped $68,000, and is expected toreach $100,000 by the end of August.

Since the funding pitch began in June, the Florida CU hasreceived widespread support from local groups, the media and CUvendors that have donated cash for the nonprofit Pensacola agencywhose staff has been involved in bird cleanup and care for injuredanimals from the start of the disaster.

“We've been through the hurricane disasters where you help outclearing roads, cutting trees and supplying food, but in somethinglike this you have to find a way to protect, restore andrehabilitate wildlife that are affected by this disaster,” saidChris Rutledge, Gulf Winds president/CEO. “Our wildlife cannot waitwhile lawsuits are settled. They will need our help now and longterm.”

Rutledge said he is particularly grateful for the financialsupport from his vendors, including CUNA Mutual, OSI DataManagement, CBSI, Fiserv, Newtek, Duncan McCall Marketing, AlliedSolutions, Sheeter Consulting and Corporate America. Gulf Winds hasalso set up a website, gogulfwinds.com, on behalf of the Gulf WindsWildlife Relief Fund. Gulf Winds CU has committed a $50,000matching donation.

Citing budget restraints, Rutledge said he is aware that notevery Florida CU has the financial wherewithal to contribute to acharity in this manner. “We are lucky to have had a good year, ahealthy 15% capital ratio because of a board that had someforesight so we could weather these kinds of conditions,” headded.

At Navy, the CU's loan department has been striving to aidmembers hit by the catastrophe with workouts and favorable terms,officials said.

Debbie Calder, senior vice president of Navy's Greater Pensocolaoperations division, is also vice chair of the Pensacola Chamber.She has been helping oversee business recovery efforts with twomembers of her staff serving on special community units. JaniceKilgore, Navy's business continuity planner and a former EscambiaCounty safety officer, has been guiding the CU in distributinghealth status reports, free situation counseling and otherinformation for CU employees and families who live and work inPensacola.

In addition, this month, Willard Dagnall, Navy's lead businessaccounts officer, has been named to the State of Florida SmallBusiness Emergency Bridge Loan Program, which is slated todistribute small loans to beleaguered firms. That program offers$25,000 in no-interest small business loans for affected areafirms.

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