DONATIONS

TruWest Credit Union, Tempe, Ariz., recently sponsored the 12th annual Komen Phoenix Race for the Cure, which was attended by over 38,000 people. Through the sponsorship and registrations, TruWest donated more than $20,600. A TruWest booth was also set up at the Corporate Village where race participants could stop by for free bottled water, giveaways and register to win two free roundtrip airline tickets. Hiway Federal Credit Union, St. Paul, Minn., has partnered with the East Metro Troopers to become a teddy bear donation site for the Minnesota State Patrol Teddy Bear Child Assistance Fund to benefit young children involved in traumatic incidents. Troopers keep teddy bears in their squad cars in the event of an accident or violent crime scene where a child is present. The teddy bears are used to comfort and reduce psychological trauma experienced by young children. Over 250 teddy bears have been donated through Hiway FCU to date. Tampa Bay Federal Credit Union, Fla., has donated $12,000 to the Florida Aquarium to fund the production of “Otter TV” and purchase a plasma television for the exhibit. The short film, which documents the daily activities of the otters and their trainers, was developed to enhance the existing sea otter exhibit. Orange County Teachers Federal Credit Union, Santa Ana, Calif., staffers teamed up with family and friends to help raise $36,000 to benefit both the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation. Team OCTFCU participated in the MS 150 Bay-to-Bay Bike Tour and a Three Day Beast Cancer Walk. With its most recent contribution, OCTFCU’s participation in the bike ride over the last four years has generated total contributions of more than $95,000. Suncoast Schools Federal Credit Union, Tampa, Fla., staffers rolled up their sleeves and donned their working gloves to participate in the 11th United Way of Tampa Bay Day of Caring. Thirty two Suncoast employees joined forces at the YMCA of Tampa to paint, clean, weed and mulch. Although the temperatures soared into the 90s, the employees from Tampa’s largest credit union worked until the job was finished. Credit Union ONE, Ferndale, Mich., has sponsored the Leaps and Bounds Family Services to help build a new Literacy Center. The non-profit organization serves at-risk children and their families with a variety of programs that incorporate parent-child interaction with educational program such as early childhood learning, adult education and computer literacy classes. Kent Credit Union, Ohio, has sponsored the “Give Them Wings” benefit in memory of Leslie Hudak Leonard, a former KCU member and teacher at Kent Roosevelt High School who was tragically killed in an automobile accident in February. The benefit, held at Kent Roosevelt High School, included a silent auction and art show as well as dramatic and vocal performances by friends of Leslie. Estimated net proceeds from this event exceeded $21,000.00.