Meritrust Credit Union, Wichita, Kan, said two local charities each received a $30,000 donation made generously possible by its members. The credit union's skip-a-pay program allowed members to defer their loan payments by paying a $25 processing fee per loan, a portion of which was donated to local charities. Meritrust chose the Envision Foundation of Wichita and Sunlight Children's Advocacy & Rights Foundation (SCARF) of El Dorado to each receive $30,000, which equates to over 90% of the money generated from the loan deferment program. The Envision Foundation provides resources to enhance the personal independence of individuals with blindness or low vision. SCARF's mission is to provide resources and facilities that support and protect abused and neglected children and their families.

MidSouth Community Federal Credit Union, Macon, Ga., presented a sponsorship donation to the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Georgia. The donation will assist in sponsoring its truck pull fundraising event scheduled for March 16 in downtown Macon's Cherry Street Plaza. The Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Georgia provides care and comfort for the families of seriously ill, critically injured or medically fragile children being treated at area medical facilities.

Scient Federal Credit Union, Groton, Conn., gave back to New London's homeless by collecting 50 pieces of winter wear for the New London Homeless Hospitality Center. The credit union displayed a “Tree of Warmth” in their service center throughout the month of December. Credit union members and members of the community came in and helped Scient decorate the tree with a total of 16 winter coats, 6 hats, 14 pairs of gloves, and 14 scarves to help keep the homeless warm this season. Scient delivered all donations to the New London Homeless Hospitality Center.

Service Credit Union, Portsmouth, N.H., and the Daniel Webster Council Boy Scouts of America officials presented a $3,000 contribution to America's Credit Union Museum Executive Director Peggy Powell. The donation was part of the proceeds from the 2012 Service Credit Union Boston-Portsmouth Air Show featuring the United States Navy Blue Angels. Proceeds from the air show also helped support two organizations, Brain Injury Association of New Hampshire and the Daniel Webster Council Boy Scouts of America, as well as a multitude of other New Hampshire nonprofit organizations ,including Make-A-Wish Foundation. Service Credit Union Vice President of Marketing Karen Benedetti and Daniel Webster Council Boy Scouts of America Marketing and Public Relations Director Greg Osborn presented the check to Powell. America's Credit Union Museum is located in Manchester, N.H., on the site of the first credit union founded in the United States. The museum is housed at the original location for St. Mary's Cooperative Credit Association. The museum pays tribute to the importance of the credit union movement in the past, present and future.

Left, SECU Board Chair McKinley Wooten announcing Prize for Innovation grant at Emerging Issues Forum.

State Employees' Credit Union, Raleigh, N.C., announced that its foundation, SECU Foundation, has provided this year the first of four planned $200,000 annual grants in support of the newly named State Employees' Credit Union Emerging Issues Prize for Innovation through the Institute for Emerging Issues at North Carolina State University. The 2014 Prize for Innovation competition will engage college level students to collaborate and respond to challenges facing their communities and state, specifically in the areas of education, health, natural and built environments and the economy. SECU Foundation's gift will allow IEI to expand on its Prize for Innovation competition, offering $50,000 in prizes to winning college teams in each issue area. McKinley Wooten, State Employees' Credit Union board of directors chairman presented the grant at the Emerging Issues Forum on behalf of SECU members, who fund the foundation. IEI developed the Emerging Issues Prize for Innovation in 2010. The Prize for Innovation engages and energizes North Carolina's young people about the role they can play in policy and economic development, and highlights the collaborative spirit, talent, and initiative it takes to put ideas into action.

Suffolk Federal Credit Union, Medford, N.Y., recently provided a $1,000 grant to the Little Flower Educational Foundation in support of the Little Flower Union Free School District, a Special Act public school in Wading River for students with special educational needs. Little Flower provides both residential and day placements for young people in grades 3-12 that live with learning and emotional disabilities. George Grigg, superintendant of Little Flower UFSD, said the contribution will help pay for student field trips and other incentives we are unable to afford due to financial constraints.

United Federal Credit Union, Berrien Springs, Mich., gave a gift of $105,000 to the Berrien County Youth Fair Association's Expo Arena project. The funds will help sponsor one of 18 classroom/skyboxes that will overlook the arena floor from the mezzanine level. When completed, the Expo Arena will offer a year-round, climate-controlled facility that will be a landmark showcase for energy conservation and sustainable design. The multi-function building will attract equestrian events, circuses, rodeos, farm shows, boat and auto shows, home and garden shows, conventions, concerts, wedding receptions, and proms. The proposed Expo Arena will cover 6.1 acres under one roof and will include a 500-stall stable and a unique indoor warm-up ring, a main arena that will seat 4,000 for show events and 7,000 seats for concert events, and a hospitality center that will feature a 14,000 square foot all-purpose exhibition hall with a full-service kitchen, offices, and access to the mezzanine level where the 18 classrooms will be located. The classrooms will featured large picture windows overlooking the arena floor and will be used by young people for fair-sponsored classes, as well as meeting space for non-profits and other groups. United Federal Credit Union separately announced that it donated $10,000 to the United Way of Southwest Michigan for its Girls on the Run program as its presenting sponsor. The program in its fifth year is for 3rd through 8th grade girls in Berrien County. Girls on the Run combines training for a 5K running event with lessons that inspire girls to become independent thinkers, enhance their problem-solving skills and make healthy decisions. Approximately 800 girls will participate in the 2013 season.

Whitefish Credit Union, Whitefish, Mont., has pledged to donate one dollar to local food banks in need for every pound of food collected by their branches during their annual Cash and Cans Food Drive. A local food bank from each of the Credit Union's six operating areas will receive both the food collected by Whitefish Credit Union and the Credit Union's cash donations based on need. The food banks receiving the donations are the North Valley Food Bank in Whitefish, the Columbia Falls Food Bank in Columbia Falls, the Tobacco Valley Food Bank in Eureka, the NW Montana Veteran's Food Pantry in Kalispell, in Polson the Loaves and Fish Food Pantry, Ronan Bread Basket and Mission Valley Food Basket, and the Thompson Falls donations will be divided between the Community Harvest Food Bank of Thompson Falls and the Community Services Fellowship Food Bank of Noxon.