Employees from the $4.4 billion Kinecta Federal Credit Union in Manhattan Beach, Calif., celebrate National Miracle Jeans Day on Sept. 12 with department and branch potlucks. Kinecta employees celebrated during the entire month of September by hosting fun and informational activities to support Children's Miracle Network Hospitals each Wednesday of the month. As a result, Kinecta's campaign raised more than $11,600 for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals.

Children from the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Lowell, Mass., show off their new books. The $564 million Align Credit Union in Lowell developed a new children's book to help teach the basics of financial literacy to children aged three to five. The book, “A Savings Account Saves the Day,” follows James and his best friend Pearl on their adventures to keep their money safe after James' piggy bank breaks. The book was written by Align's #NextGen group and illustrated by Robert E. Bradley, a Framingham State University senior who will be receiving his bachelor's degree in studio art with a concentration in illustration in May 2019. The book was unveiled at the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Lowell on Oct. 18 to celebrate International Credit Union Day. Eleven second- and third-grade students were treated to a book reading and given goodie bags with a copy of the new book, coloring supplies, a $10 Amazon gift card to buy a book of their choice and more. Align's new book will be available for a $5 donation at all Align branches. All donations will be given to Raising a Reader Massachusetts, a statewide organization focused on helping families develop home reading routines that build the foundation for a good education.

Staff members from the $528 million Hawaii Community Federal Credit Union in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, pose for a picture with school students. Thousands of Hawaiian students received donated backpacks, notebooks, writing tools and more. The items were collected by Hawaii Community, Pacific Media Group and Hawaii Island United Way during the Kako'o I Na Keiki Back to School Supply Drive. More than 7,200 items were donated to 30 elementary schools across Hawaii. The drive included drop-offs at each Hawaii Community branch, a radio remote event at the Kaloko branch and the collection of monetary donations to purchase additional items.

Children at the Lansingburgh Family Resource Center pose for a picture while holding thank you signs. The $1.7 billion CAP COM Federal Credit Union in Albany, N.Y., and its charitable giving arm, the CAP COM Cares Foundation, donated nearly 300 new winter coats to children in need at the Lansingburgh Family Resource Center. The children, ranging in age from six weeks to five years, attend the Commission on Economic Opportunity's Early Head Start Program and Head Start Program in Troy, N.Y. The CAP COM Cares Foundation partnered with the CEO of the Coats for Kids Program for several consecutive years. This year, all the coats were purchased by a local business partner, B. Lodge & Company in Albany.

Staff members from the $820 million Great Lakes Credit Union in Bannockburn, Ill., present a $3,000 check to Turning Point. From left to right are: Nick Mager, Great Lakes CU Business Development Manager; Steve Bugg, Great Lakes CU President/CEO; Jane Farmer, Turning Point Executive Director; Kelsey Coonce, Great Lakes CU Assistant Vice President of Branch Operations and Lee Piekarz, Great Lakes CU Board Member. In support of Great Lakes CU's initiative to support its communities, on Oct. 2, 2018, Piekarz contributed $3,000 to Turning Point of Lake County. For the third year in a row, Great Lakes CU's board of directors adopted a plan to give back to their neighbors, and branch managers from each location worked closely with board members to support local charities. Turning Point is an organization that helps domestic abuse victims in McHenry county area. Its services include 24-hour crisis intervention and response, emergency shelter, individual and group counseling for adults and trauma-based mental health services.

Dave Gunderson (fourth from right), president/CEO for the $1.4 billion Credit Union of Southern California in Anaheim, Calif., presents a check to St. Joseph's Foundation in Orange, Calif. The credit union recently donated $200,000 to 15 local charities including CAPC, Inc., the Whittier Host Lions Club for its Sight for Kids Event, Soroptimist International of Whittier, the Murphy Ranch Little League for field maintenance, the Women's & Children's Crisis Shelter in Whittier and the Boys & Girls Club Whittier. Because six of the 15 non-profit organizations that received donations are in Whittier, the credit union hosted a photo event with the Whittier Mayor Joe Vinatieri at its Greenleaf Branch on Oct. 9.

Please send your Community news items to Tahira Hayes at thayes@cutimes.com.

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Credit Unions Give Back to Schools & Local Charities

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