DONATIONS

Gwinnett County Federal Credit Union, Lawrenceville, Ga., staffers teamed up to donate items for a special basket filled with pink “treasures” to raise money during the American Cancer Society’s breast cancer awareness program-Relay for Life. Basket contents were raffled off and helped collect over $1,200. Members and employees raise money year-round with various fund raising events, culminating in the Gwinnett County Relay For Life. GFCU has donated over $9,800 to Relay For Life in 2004. The Battle Creek Area Credit Unions, Mich., has collected over 165 new and gently used coats and blankets to help local low-income families stay warm this winter. The Charitable Union has provided clothing free of charge since 1887, and is a program delivery partner of the United Way. The Battle Creek Area Credit Union group includes: Battle Creek Building Trades CU, Battle Creek Postal CU, DOD Federal Credit Union, Grand Trunk Employees FCU, Kellogg Community FCU, Marshall Community CU, Omni Family CU, Post Metro CU, United Educational CU and VA & Military Employees FCU. Visions Federal Credit Union, Endicott, N.Y., has raised over $6,500 during the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk. In addition to Visions FCU’s corporate sponsorship some 43 wlkers participated in the event. This marks the credit union’s seventh year of sponsorship and funds raised will be used in the fight against breast cancer. Greater New Orleans Federal Credit Union, Metairie, La., has demonstrated its support to the community by donating over 158 pounds of dry goods and food items to Second Harvesters Food Bank. Second Harvesters Food Bank distributes millions of pounds of food to the southern part of Louisiana, providing thousands of quality meals to men, women and children in need daily. FAIRWINDS Credit Union, Orlando, Fla. , has raised $13,000 to benefit the Greater Orlando’s Children’s Miracle Network during the FAIRWINDS Charities 5th Annual Golf Tournament. FAIRWINDS Charities, a charitable foundation of FAIRWINDS CU, also contributed $10,000 to the money raised bringing the overall donation to $23,000. Pacific Service Credit Union, Walnut Creek, Calif., has helped more than 600 people receive a hot meal from Open Heart Kitchen thanks to a recent donation. The volunteer-run meal program provides hot meals to low-income residents in Pleasanton, Livermore, Dublin and San Ramon. Truliant Federal Credit Union, Winston-Salem, N.C., has provided a $3,000 grant to Hall-Woodward Elementary School for the purchase of a Computerized Processing System. This system allows children to participate in the classroom through the use of a hand-held remote control that can be used to answer questions. For students who are less confident or are learning English as a second language, this system will allow them to more readily communicate, rather than speak out loud in front of others. Over 63% of the students at Hall-Woodward are Hispanic, the largest percentage of any elementary school in the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County school system. CPS breaks down the language barrier for those students and gives them the confidence and ability to communicate in the classroom.