DONATIONS

Mid-Cities Schools Credit Union, Compton, Calif., recently awarded 13 lucky students with scholarships from the CU’s Scholarship Committee. Each student received $500 toward his or her college education. The awards were based on outstanding academic achievement and are given annually to students in MCSCU’s field of membership. Pacific Service Credit Union, Walnut Creek, Calif., has awarded the Berkeley-Albany YMCA a $4,250 grant to fund the Y-Scholars program, which helps low-income Berkeley High School students achieve the dream of furthering their education. The Y-Scholars Program provides mentorship and tutoring to Berkeley High students who are the first generation of their families with plans to continue their education beyond high school to attend a college or trade school. TruMark Financial Credit Union, Trevose, Pa., recently presented Bensalem High School with a new computer projector for the business education department to use in its personal finance and money management classes. With a grant from the Pennsylvania Credit Union Foundation, TruMark Financial purchased the projector for the teachers to use as an instructional aid in their classrooms. The Mt. Hood Chapter of Credit Unions, Portland, Ore., sponsored the first annual Bowling for Blanchet House of Hospitality recently at the AMF Cascade Lanes. The following credit unions participated raising $1,000: Oregonians CU; OnPoint Community CU; Point West CU; UFCW Northwest FCU; Fred Meyer Employees FCU; Providence FCU; and NW Priority CU. Pacific NW FCU and Machinists CU donated additional funds. The funds were given to the Blanchet House at the Annual Bob Burns Memorial Turkey Shoot. The Blanchet House serves free meals, provides a place to sleep, job leads/opportunities, and helps and aids the poor and disenfranchised of Portland. Nassau Educators Federal Credit Union, Westbury, N.Y., recently sponsored 19 area children to participate in the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s 2006 Summer Camp program through its Community Involvement Committee. The Muscular Dystrophy Association camp is a “magical” place where children with neuromuscular diseases can enjoy a wide range of activities specially designed for those who have limited mobility or who use wheelchairs. This is the second year NEFCU has provided this sponsorship. The MAX4Kids Foundation, sponsored by MAX, Your Community Credit Union!, Prattville, Ala., hosted its 7th Annual Charity Golf Tournament at the Robert Trent Jones Legislator Course recently. This year’s tournament set a record-breaking fundraising level of $43,430 for the MAX4Kids Foundation. The MAX4Kids Foundation assists children of Autauga, Elmore and Montgomery counties through scholarship programs and donations to various charitable organizations. The Foundation has donated over $125,000 to children’s charities, and has distributed $50,000 in college scholarships for deserving high school students. Lynn W. Owen III, president/CEO of Insight Financial Credit Union, Orlando, Fla., presented $250 to support Steve Precourt’s campaign for Florida State Representative. Precourt represents District 41 in the Florida House of Representatives, he is credit union friendly and an avid supporter of enhancing standards in the education system. The winners of the Weirton-Wellsburg Chapter of Credit Unions’ Coloring Contest were recently chosen. Entries were submitted by students from areas schools. There were three winners from each age group–kindergarten, first grade, second grade, third grade, and fourth grade–were selected. Each student received a $50 U.S. Savings Bond, certificate and a souvenir picture. Philadelphia Federal Credit Union, Philadelphia, was on hand to usher in the fall season and celebrate the Annual Cedar Park Fair as the main event sponsor, contributing $1,000 to the Cedar Park Neighbors Association. PFCU employees from the West Philadelphia Branch distributed gifts to neighborhood children as well as information to parents about PFCU membership and the benefits of youth accounts. The fair was packed with children’s activities, information tables, prizes, food and live entertainment. SeaComm Federal Credit Union, Massena, N.Y., recently held an unusual fundraising activity at its Malone Branch to raise money for a local elementary school playground. Dubbed “Attach of the Potty Pack”, the effort involved decorated toilets that members could pay a fee to have delivered by the CU staff anywhere in the local community. “Victims” of the attack could then pay an optional small fee to have the item removed or a larger fee to have it delivered to someone else. Residents were also offered the opportunity to buy “Potty Pack Safety Insurance” so their homes or businesses were protected from a delivery. The effort raised over $1,000, which will be added to the proceeds from other events such as a gigantic yard sale and a spaghetti dinner as the CU works towards its $5,000 goal. Sunmark Federal Credit Union, Schenectady, N.Y., recently donated $15,013 to the Community Land Trust of Schenectady, Inc. The money was raised from Sunmark’s seventh annual charity golf classic, which was held at the Van Patten Golf Course in Clifton Park. Funds from the charity golf event will assist Community Land Trust with construction of teach space in which to conduct hands-on home maintenance skills to homeowners. Employees of UW Credit Union, Madison, Wis., and students from the UW Chapter of Habitat for Humanity of Dane County began building a home for the Carmella Smith family in the Twin Oaks neighborhood recently. UW Credit Union has pledged $75,000 over the next five years to build Habitat homes and has implemented an online contribution option so members can conveniently donate to the project from their accounts with a click of a mouse. Habitat has built over 100 homes in Dane County since 1987. Missouri Valley Federal Credit Union, O’Fallon, Mo., helped out with the “KIDPOWER Picnic” hosted by Healthy Communities of St. Charles County. Approximately 200 attendees gathered at Youth Activity Park for KIDPOWER SCC’s “KIDPOWER Picnic” to celebrate youths’ accomplishments throughout the summer. Two MVFCU employees volunteered their time to help work the picnic. The credit union also donated four bicycles for use in a raffle drawing as a reward for the participants. KIDPOWER St. Charles County is a free summer-wellness program for youth age 18 and younger that encourages them to get and stay active while also choosing nutritious foods to fuel an active lifestyle.