DONATIONS

<p>Chartway Federal Credit Union, Virginia Beach, Va., employees have raised more than $16,300 for the United Way of South Hampton Roads. The United Way of South Hampton Roads supports 160 local health and human services programs. They are an independent, volunteer-directed organization, a partnership of donors, volunteers and service providers joined together to build a more self-sufficient community. Pacific Service Credit Union, Walnut Creek, Calif., has donated $100,000 to charitable organizations in the four counties that they serve. These donations had a positive impact on more than 12,000 families. Pacific Service CU’s community involvement efforts are focused on assisting Children’s Hospitals, Head Start programs, the Red Cross, low-income credit unions, and employee community service awards. AmeriChoice Federal Credit Union, Mechanicsburg, Pa., has raised $1,205 for The Ronald McDonald House. The credit union donated $.02 for every VISA and VISA/Debit transaction during the month of December. Teddy bears were also delivered to the children. Royal Oakland Community Credit Union, Royal Oak, Mich., and Royal Oak Schools Credit Union have managed to raise a combined 1,693 pounds of food for the Food Bank of Oakland County. During a “Food Fight” both credit unions challenged each other as to which could collect the most food by weight per CU employee. Both credit unions solicited food or cash donations. Once donated to the Food Bank and the weight was calculated per credit union, Royal Oak Schools Credit Union was the winner. With 15 employees, ROSCU collected 612 lbs. of food. Royal Oakland Community CU with 65 employees collected 1,081 lbs. of food. State Employees Credit Union, Lansing, Mich., has raised $18,238 for Capital Area United Way. The money included pledges, donations, and money raised from special employee events. SECU utilized the Internet to offer entertainment and encourage staff participation in various United Way Campaign events. Fundraisers included hosting a silent auction website called secuBay where pictures of donated items were posted and bidding was done through e-mail. Similarly, a Management Stunt Contest was held in which the top five stunts with the highest amount of donations were performed. Stunt information was placed on the Web site and updated regularly with the newest bids. A few of the stunts included catching three water balloons dropped from the top of their six-floor building, washing the windshield of every employees’ car, and dressing up as the Good Humor Man, delivering ice cream to the staff. Riverside Campus Federal Credit Union, Calif., has donated over 400 stuffed animals during the Riverside Campus FCU stuffed animal drive to the Riverside Sheriff’s Department. The animals are used to help soothe the traumatized children that the Sheriff’s department encounters on a daily basis. Credit Union Alliance of San Diego, Calif., has joined with Paper Models, Inc. to provide a free photo-realistic model of Mission Basilica San Diego to fourth grade students in San Diego County. The Mission Model is available for download at www.creditunionalliance.org. Every year the parents of some 17,000 fourth graders are faced with the creative and practical challenge of how to build a model of the Mission Basilica San Diego to meet a San Diego County elementary school requirement. With the focus this year on education the Web site also includes history, virtual tours and links so students can find out more about California Missions and the role they played in the cultural and social development of California’s major metropolitan areas.</p>