America First Credit Union, Riverdale, Utah, announced the creation of a new employee volunteer service program called “The Greater Good.” The new service arm has been created with the mission of providing more projects for the specific benefit of the many communities where it operates and employees live. Historically, America First members and employees have served numerous community, education and charitable causes, such as: Warm the Soles of Kids, 100% for Kids Education Foundation, financial counseling, Reality Town, community assistance funding, and school sponsorships. These causes will continue to receive necessary support from America First. Now, through The Greater Good, America First employees are organized within 11 geographic community service areas and directed by the volunteer program administrator. Each employee team is led by a service area captain and assisted by task leaders for quarterly projects to benefit the community.

American Heritage Federal Credit Union, Philadelphia, recently had its “Green Team” partner with the Maritime Charter Academy, Fox Chase Elementary School and East Norriton Middle School for the “Bring Your Own Bag” project. The goal of the project, which was sponsored by American Heritage and Conservingnow.com, was to make children more aware of the effects plastic bags have on the environment. This is the second year of the project and involves schools located near  American Heritage branches. The children participated in a month-long project that enlisted their families to bring their own bag to supermarkets and stores and discouraged the use of plastic bags. It is the hope that through early education, positive lifelong habits are created and the students become the catalysts for change in their families and communities. Each winning class received a $100 gift card for Becker's Teacher Store and all participants were treated to a pizza party.

EECU, Jackson, Miss., announced that Braxten Boyd and Corenda Eggleston, both of Hillsdale, are two of the 12 winners in a national contest that promotes environmental awareness and thrift among children. Boyd and Eggleston are members of EECU's Johnny Appleseed Junior Ecology Club, a nationwide program sponsored by financial institutions interested in helping young people to learn more about ecology and smart money management. The two created drawings with a theme of recycling and conserving that will be featured in the Johnny Appleseed Club's 2012 national calendar. Both drawings were chosen from hundreds of entries in the national contest. Boyd and Eggleston were honored at EECU's Hillsdale branch for their status in winning the contest, and they were both awarded a $50.00 check for their efforts.

The Golden 1 Credit Union, Sacramento , Calif., will host a free shredding event on May 5 at its operations center. The public is invited to drive up and drop off up to five banker's boxes full of confidential and personal documents at the event. Golden 1 has teamed up with Iron Mountain to handle the shredding, and the shredded remnants will be recycled. Shredding important documents that contain any type of personal or confidential information such as anything that has a signature, account number, Social Security number, or medical or legal information (plus credit offers) is one way to keep your private information out of the wrong hands, said Donna A. Bland, president/CEO of Golden 1.  Last fall, Golden 1 safely disposed of a record-setting 167,000 pounds of sensitive material for more than 3,000 individuals at its community shred event.

MAFCU, Boston, co-sponsored a 10-hour, first-time homebuyers course with Nuestra Comunidad Development Corp. Course participants received a certificate for down payment and closing cost help after completing the course. MAFCU hosts a variety of financial education seminars in branches and also coordinates with affiliates to bring financial education to the workplace.

MAX Credit Union, Montgomery, Ala., held its ninth annual MAX Community Reception. At the reception, MAX honored Montgomery Area Nontraditional Equestrians as the recipient of the 2012 MAX Community Achievement Award. The MAX Community Reception is an annual event that brings together business, political, and community leaders to celebrate community successes and recognize organizations and individuals who have made a significant difference in the quality of life in the River Region. This year, MAX honored MANE with the 2012 MAX Community Achievement Award for its efforts to provide safe and therapeutic horseback riding opportunities for area children and adults with emotional, physical, cognitive and developmental disabilities. MANE is a fully accredited North American Riding for the Handicapped Association premier riding center.

Power Financial Credit Union, Pembroke Pines, Fla. is teaming up with Weston-based College Funding Specialists Inc. to offer a free workshop for parents this month that will teach families with college-bound teens how to successfully manage the college planning processes. The workshop presenter, Peter  Ratzan, author and owner of College Funding, will tell parents of college-bound children that they should be less focused on the sticker price of college, and instead be more aware of how generous each college is with financial aid. 

Redwood Credit Union, Sebastopal, Calif., recently had a team of 17 employees and their family members, along with approximately 60 other community volunteers, brave wet and windy conditions to participate in the third annual Laguna de Santa Rosa Tree-a-Thon–a local tree-planting effort to help preserve the Laguna's oak woodlands ecosystem, restore lost animal habitats and provide food for the Laguna's native wildlife. More than 600 trees and shrubs were planted along the Laguna in Sebastopol during the event. Redwood Credit Union's sustainability programs include its LEED-certified administrative offices in Santa Rosa; recycling programs at all branches; green-friendly services such as paper-free online banking, bill pay and eStatements; loan discounts on qualified hybrid vehicles: and an online green center where Members can find tips on reducing waste, energy efficiency and more. The credit union has a sustainability committee that meets regularly and helps to guide and promote green awareness, education and involvement in the organization.

Robins Federal Credit Union, Warner Robins, Ga., recently renewed its sponsorship of the Tubman African American Museum's 16th annual Pan African Festival. The week-long cultural festival, held in the heart of Macon, included music, dance, poetry and film. Robins Federal Credit Union has supported the Pan African Festival of Georgia for two years, and has supported the Tubman African American Museum since 2005.

San Diego County Credit Union, San Diego, offered free shredding services earlier this month at three SDCCU locations in southern California. The public was invited to bring a maximum of two boxes containing personal and confidential information to have it shredded on the spot at no charge. Since 2007, when SDCCU began hosting its free shred day events, more than 340,000 pounds of confidential, sensitive documents have been shredded on the spot and recycled at no charge, saving approximately 3,138 trees. Families who took  advantage of shredding services received a free USB flash drive, a secure, alternative device to storing information on a computer hard drive.