COMMUNITY EVENTS

Genisys Credit Union, Oakland County, Mich., announced plans to partner with Palace Sports and Entertainment and sponsor the 20th annual Walk for Warmth. Hosted by Oakland Livingston Human Service Agency, events will be held in both Oakland and Livingston counties. The events raise money to assist income eligible people with their utility bills.

Caption: Smart Financial Credit Union, Houston, donated school supplies and money to area school districts through its second annual school supply drive. The drive is aimed at collecting school supplies and cash donations to help specific schools and districts replenish their supplies during the school year. In many cases, the school districts choose a school in need of supplies as a beneficiary of the donated items. Hundreds of pounds of supplies were collected along with nearly $2,400 cash through donations made by the credit union, its employees and members.

HEW Federal Credit Union, Washington, D.C., joined forces with Suitland High School in Forestville, Md., and held a “For the Community, By the Community” canned food drive to feed local families. The credit union's branches served as donation drop-off locations. The food drive featured live music from Suitland students and an exhibition by the school's dance team. Also assisting with the drive were players from the D.C. Divas, Washington's professional women's football team. The food was distributed to more than 50 families.

University Credit Union, Los Angeles, held its third annual book drive, collecting more than 360 books for the children's library at Mattel Children's Hospital UCLA. The credit union asked its members and others in the UCLA family to bring children's books to collection bins at both credit union branches.

OSU Federal, Corvallis, Ore., followed through on a pledge made in its three-month drive for members to waive their paper monthly statements and has fulfilled a donation to the state of Oregon Forestry Department for the planting of 11,000 trees to recognize the 3,424 members who made the move to e-statements through their online banking access. A ceremony initiating the planting was held at the credit union and included branch management from the credit union's five counties.

Aberdeen Proving Ground Federal Credit Union, Aberdeen, Md., collected new books for local students as part of its annual Jump Start to Reading Book Drive. Each of the credit union's nine branches accepted donations of new books for deserving students ages two through 22.

Telesis Community Credit Union, Chatsworth, Calif., announced plans to sponsor a free document shred day event at its Chatsworth location. The event, open to the general public, is designed to assist consumers with preventing identity theft by securely shredding their sensitive documents.

Jeanne D'Arc Credit Union, Lowell, Mass., partnership with the Arts League of Lowell and hosted its first Art at Tremont Yard open house and art exhibit. The exhibition was held in the credit union's Merrimack Room. The exhibit featured the work of artist Don Ouellette a local artist whose oil and watercolor painting capture the beauty of the New England landscape.

Crescent Credit Union, Brockton, Mass., partnered with area cleaners to collect and clean 559 winter coats, which were then delivered to nonprofit community organizations for distribution to those in need. The coats are being distributed by Saint Vincent de Paul Society, Holy Family Parish, Catholic Charities, MA Coalition for the Homeless, and The Salvation Army, among others.

Advance Financial Federal Credit Union, Schererville, Ind., hosted a trip for its Better Than 50 Club. Participants enjoyed a full day of shopping, dining, and walking through the miles of aisles in the more than 200 stores of Gurnee Mills. The credit union's Better Than 50 Club provides discounted services and an interest-bearing checking account full of benefits to help people over 50 continue to live comfortably. In addition, the club offers exciting, well-organized day trips and social gatherings throughout the year.

St. Mary's Bank, Manchester, N.H., announced plans to host free reverse mortgage seminars. The seminars will cover the important elements of understanding reverse mortgages including changes passed last year by Congress that increase the maximum loan amount and cap origination fees. Participants will learn what a reverse mortgage is, how it works, common misconceptions, available products as well as program qualifications. They will also learn about the associated costs of reverse mortgages, payment options and program eligibility requirements.

Service 1 Federal Credit Union, Muskegon, Mich., partnered with 11 local credit unions to hold a community food drive for Love Inc. The credit unions surpassed their goal and collected and donated nearly 7,000 pounds of food to the organization.