Employees and family members from Navy Federal Credit Union's Annapolis Mall, Bethesda, Naval Station and Naval Academy branches, Vienna, Va., participated in their 3rd Annual Relay for Life event, raising more than $14,000. Fundraising activities such as bake sales, a pizza fundraiser, and a "Relay for Life" snack bar set up in the branches were among the many efforts to raise awareness and money in the months preceding the event. State Employees Credit Union, Raleigh, N.C., recently held the groundbreaking ceremony for the SECU Family House. Working in conjunction with Family House at UNC Hospitals, the SECU Foundation provided an initial challenge grant of $2 million to jumpstart the project. The 43,000 square foot, 40 bedroom hospitality house will serve UNC Hospitals' adult critical care patients and will specifically support patients and families of UNC's Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, the various transplant units, the NC Jaycee Burn Center, trauma, and the eating disorders clinic. Family House will provide affordable, comfortable lodging and create a supportive environment for families faced with an extended medical crisis away from home. GFA Federal Credit Union, Gardner, Mass., recently participated in the Massachusetts Credit Union League's annual book drive and donated 1,527 books. Although the book drive was primarily for area children, many adult books were also donated and placed with organizations that serve the adult population. The books were sorted, boxed and distributed to six local organizations: The Caring Place; Sacred Heart School Library; Holy Rosary School Library; Waterford School P.T.O.; House of Peace and Education; and Hubbardston Center School Library. NASA Federal Credit Union, Upper Marlboro, Md., awarded a total of $18,000 in scholarships to six area high school seniors as part of its 2006 Mitchell-Beall Memorial Scholarship program. The annual program rewards the academic endeavors of young credit union members who are working toward four-year or two-year undergraduate degrees or vocational studies. This year's winners were: Nina Farley, Auston Edwards, Mitchell Whitlock, Michael Steele II, Nicole Gates, and Paul Yi. Seven Seventeen Credit Union, Warren, Ohio, recently awarded six $1,000 scholarships at its 48th Annual Meeting. All winners are graduating high school seniors who are members or children of members of Seven Seventeen. The scholarships, based on grade point average and school and community involvement, are to be used at universities in communities served by the financial institution. Scholarship recipients include: Matthew Blount, Samantha Bonar, Rachel Trowbridge, Rebecca Odell, Amanda Colvin and Sarah Dyer. Tower Federal Credit Union, Laurel, Md., has been busy making donations for different organizations and causes recently. Team For A Cure, a group of Tower volunteers who raise money for two organizations specializing in cancer research, the Susan G. Komen Foundation and the American Cancer Society, has raised over $4,700 during the first half of the year. Team For A Cure raised the funds by sponsoring three raffle fundraisers for Tower employees and a car wash, bake and yard sale held at Tower's Laurel Headquarters. Next, Tower FCU volunteered to be an official sponsor of the first annual Race to Cure ALS. The 65 runners and 138 walkers (which included several members of Tower's staff and their families) raised $11,000, with Tower's contributions estimated to be 10% to 15% of the amount collected. The Children's Miracle Network was another recipient of Tower's generosity. Tower presented $28,321.93 to Kristen Nock, assistant director of corporate relations for Johns Hopkins Children's Center in Baltimore, during this year's CMN telethon. Several staff members volunteered to help raise $1 million for CMN by answering telephones for the telethon. The 24th Annual Tower Classic Golf Tournament provided another opportunity for Tower to present Nock with a donation for Johns Hopkins Children's Center. This time $8,500 was given to the center. And finally, five, young adult Tower members were given $1,000 scholarships from the Credit Union Foundation. Out of the 10 winners, five were members of Tower. Scott Credit Union, Collinsville, Ill., raised $1,300 to benefit the Autism Society of Southern Illinois. CU employees sold candy and participated in four special "dress down" days to raise money for ASOSI. Members of Scott CU contributed by purchasing candy at the nine credit union offices located throughout the Metro East. The ASOSI assists in meeting families' needs, helping individuals with autism to have a dignified quality of life and the opportunity to be contributing members of society. American First Credit Union, La Habra, Calif., has announced its seven college scholarship winners. The CU awarded one $3,000, one $2,000 and five $1,000 scholarships. Nearly 50 students applied, but after an extensive evaluation, seven students stood out for their academic achievement and potential, career goals, character, leadership, community involvement and social awareness. The seven winners were: Manilynn Disuanco, $3,000 winner; Shannon White, $2,000 winner; William Halverson, $1,000 winner; Andrew Stephen Minnich, $1,000 winner; Rita Hanna, $1,000 winner; Alvaro Martinez, $1,000 winner; and Michael Balderman, $1,000 winner. Merrimack Valley Federal Credit Union, North Andover, Mass., participates in the Relay for Life every year. This year it was held at Northern Essex Community College and employees who volunteered at the CU spent the night with their own families enjoying fun and games through the night. Total raised by MVFCU for the American Cancer Society was $1,308. First Credit Union, Chandler, Ariz., recently participated in UCP Casual for a Cause. Over 100 FCU employees paid to dress casual, raising $2,700 benefiting UCP of Central Arizona. UCP's mission is to advance the independence, participation and full citizenship of people with cerebral palsy and other disabilities. Clearview Federal Credit Union, Moon Township, Pa., recently announced the winners of the 2006 Ralph B. Canterbury Scholarship. Ten scholarships in the amount of $1,000 each were awarded at the CU's Annual Meeting. Each of the following winners was awarded one of the 10 scholarships to use towards their college education: Heather Detwiler, Nikolai Fedyszyn, Shana Fowler, Christina Frick, Gerald Hudak Jr., Jacqulyn Kalina, Erin Nelson, Christopher Rigby, Michael Spina and Lucia White. This was the 7th Annual Ralph B. Canterbury Scholarship, named in honor of Canterbury's outstanding service and loyalty to the CU during his 34-year tenure. Towpath Credit Union, Akron, Ohio, joined in the fight against cancer at the Westside Relay for Life. The credit union held several fundraisers including a raffle, selling Relay candy bars, and the "Piggy Bank Challenge." Donated prizes included a Supreme Car Detail by Chrome Customs, a certificate for a Cruise for Two from the CU, and many more. ICandi Graphics also donated to the cause by making custom shirts for Towpath participants. The CU has donated over $4,500 to the American Cancer Society. Staff and members were also encouraged to write messages of hope and memories on several banners that were carried around the track during the parade. The Relay committee unanimously awarded "Rookie Team of the Year" to the Towpath team. Hopewell Federal Credit Union, Heath, Ohio, has named Zack Sherburn its 2006 winner of a $1,000 scholarship. Sherburn is a graduate of Licking Valley High School in Newark and will attend the University of Toledo. Apple Federal Credit Union, Fairfax, Va., recently raised $22,000 during its 5th Annual Charity Golf Tournament for the American Cancer Society. Proceeds earned will benefit cancer research, educational programs and patient services provided by ACS. Forty-seven area sponsors and over 100 players were lured to the links at Reston National Golf Course for one common goal, to take a swing at cancer. Tournament registrations, mulligan sales, 50/50 raffle tickets and a silent auction filled with golf and sporting memorabilia, were just a few of the fundraisers employed for the event. Evansville Teachers Federal Credit Union, Evansville, Ind., recently sponsored employee Brook Howard in her running of the Rock 'N Roll Marathon in San Diego to raise money for charity. Her efforts made quite a difference not only for her charity, but for her credit union as well. The ETFCU consumer lending department based a highly successful lending promotion on Howard's personal goals. As a sponsored runner Howard, ETFCU's lending call center coordinator, was required to raise $4,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, but set her personal goal at $5,000. The lending department set a May goal of $500,000 in recaptured member loans from other financial institutions based on the marathon theme. The credit union had its best month in recent memory in recaptured loans and exceeded their goal by over $108,000 and Howard amassed over $6,500 for her cause. Staley Credit Union, Decatur, Ill., awarded three $1,000 college scholarships. The scholarships were awarded based on academic achievement, work or volunteer experience, and community involvement. Three high school seniors, Sarah Dial, Kimberlee Fiala, and Shruti Purkayastha, were the 2006-07 scholarship recipients. In other Staley CU donation news, as a participating sponsor of a local radio contest the CU awarded a $100 Visa gift card to member and contest winner, Christy Hicks. Hicks won a trip for two to the Academy of Country Music Awards held in Las Vegas. Thurston High School picked up 55 new computers today, courtesy of a donation from Northwest Community Credit Union, Springfield, Ore. The computers will be used to upgrade outdated equipment in the school's science and computer labs. More importantly, they will allow the school to offer new programs to students studying business. Staff at Thurston will be working over the summer to get the PCs ready in time for school in the fall.