Oregon CUs Give in Large Numbers for Katrina

BEAVERTON, Ore. – Joining others across the U.S., Oregon credit unions in large numbers have stepped up to help out Katrina victims with employee and member cash. “We do have a reputation for wanting to help and as an example you can look at Oregon’s high rank among the Leagues giving to Children’s Miracle Network,” said a spokeswoman for the Credit Union Association of Oregon which reportedly has been second in the nation behind Texas in CMN donations. As for Katrina, the list of Oregon and Washington CUs giving to hurricane victims continued to grow last week including: * Point West CU of Portland established a relief fund and committed to matching the first $1,000 during the first three weeks of September. Donations will be split between the American Red Cross and Northwest Medical Teams. Point West also donated $1,000 to NCUF. * Portland Teachers, MaPS Credit Union in Salem; and iQ Credit Union in Vancouver, Wash. have set up funds to assist Northwest Medical Teams. * OSU FCU, Corvallis contributed $10,000 to the Red Cross with staff starting an additional drive. * Unitus Community CU in Portland requested money from directors and is setting up an employee/member link to the Red Cross, also soliciting via branches and the call center. * SELCO Community CU, Eugene, will match funds up to $10,000 made in branch contributions. * Northwest Community CU, Springfield, plans to donate servers, monitors, VCR’s, and other equipment. * The Oregon Credit Union Foundation, a subsidiary of CUAO, has made an initial donation of $2,500 to NCUF. * Klamath Falls Public Employees FCU has a drop box for donations and Mid Oregon FCU, Bend has posted signs with Wanna FCU, Astoria, posting Web notices. * Rivermark Community CU, Beaverton will have a barbecue at its administrative offices with a suggested donation of $5 with the CU matching up to $1,000. * First Tech CU, also in Beaverton has established a matching fund program up to $100, 000. The CU has also agreed to sponsor a scaled down version of the annual Waterfront Blues Festival with 100% of the $15.00 entrance fee going to victims. * Benton County Schools CU is matching donations raised at eight high schools up to $300 per school.