CUs Donate Funds, Support Kids & Bring Sports Dreams to Life

Kelly Tahan, Haverhill branch manager for the $564 million Align Credit Union in Lowell, Mass., stands with Officer Steve Iannalfo and camp participants wearing T-shirts sponsored by the credit union during this year’s Haverhill Police Department’s Gang Resistance Education and Training (GREAT)/Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) Summer Camp. The credit union supported the free camp, which ran from July 9 to Aug. 10 at the Consentino School. At the camp, Haverhill children ages eight to 11 enjoyed a variety of activities such as outdoor and team-building games, guest speakers and field trips. The GREAT/DARE Summer Camp gives kids a place to go during summer break while providing them with education, fun and friendship.

Employees from the $1.3 billion Hanscom Federal Credit Union in Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass., present a $1,000 check to Christopher Grallert, president of the board of directors for Littleton Community Farm during the recent grand opening celebration of its Littleton, Mass., branch. Littleton Community Farm is a gathering place dedicated to fostering an appreciation of and connection among land, food, neighbors and community. The organization promotes awareness of the importance of farms, their relationships to land and community, and access to locally-grown food.

Six-year-old Suffolk native Caleb, who battles a congenital heart condition, throws the first pitch to kick off Wands and Wizards night at the Norfolk Tides and Toledo Mud Hens baseball game on July 25 in Norfolk, Va. The $2.1 billion Chartway Federal Credit Union in Virginia Beach, Va., and its We Promise Foundation partnered with Make-A-Wish Greater Virginia to host a surprise Wish Reveal for Caleb. After throwing the first pitch, the three organizations held a special on-field presentation, revealing Caleb’s wish to visit Walt Disney World will be granted. Chartway’s We Promise Foundation has proudly given back to the communities it serves since 1999. Altogether, the credit union’s charitable arm has raised more than $10,000,000 to provide the financial support needed to make dreams and wishes come to life for children facing medical challenges.

“Team Own It” from the $2.1 billion Corporate Central Credit Union in Muskego, Wis., attends last year’s Titletown Showdown event. Corporate Central and Special Olympics Wisconsin have teamed up again this year to bring you the Titletown Showdown First Annual Credit Union Challenge. All proceeds collected by teams benefit Special Olympics Wisconsin athletes and help foster the Special Olympics mission. The event will be held Sept. 15, 2018 at the historic City Stadium in Green Bay, Wis., where the Green Bay Packers played from 1925 to 1956. Titletown Showdown is an opportunity to play on the same turf as many former Green Bay Packers and against numerous former Green Bay Packers. Credit unions are challenged to form flag football teams to compete against each other, show support by heading to Green Bay to cheer on the teams, or make donations to a participating team.

From left to right, Board Member Edward C. Brown, IV from the $892 million RTN Federal Credit Union in Waltham, Mass., stands with James A. Burley, Jr. Scholarship Award recipients Scarlett Souter, Emily Graziani, Sabine Tessono and RTN Board Chair Arthur Osborn. The scholarship awards totaling $10,000 are presented annually to three college-bound students whose parents are credit union members. The annual award is named in honor of RTN’s late Chairman and Director James A. Burley, Jr., who served the credit union for more than 30 years. Scholarship recipients are selected based on their written responses to a thematic-based essay. This year’s topic was “What current event has affected you the most? Explain why.”

Employees from the $2.9 billion Municipal Credit Union in New York City present $5,000 to the Brooklyn Hospital Center’s Fight Against Cancer on the final day of the week-long MCU Shoot For A Cure at Brooklyn Borough Hall. From second from left are Brooklyn Cyclones Assistant General Manager Gary Perone, MCU Vice President of Business Development/Member Relations Corey Fernandes, Brooklyn Hospital Center’s Dr. Madhavi Reddy, MCU Acting President/CEO Norman Kohn, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams and Brooklyn Hospital Center President Gary Terrinoni. MCU’s donation will support free colon cancer screenings in high-risk areas. More than 5,000 people participated in the week-long MCU Shoot For A Cure by shooting a basketball and signing the Wall of Remembrance in support of their loved ones who have been affected by the disease.

Please send your Community news items to Tahira Hayes at thayes@cutimes.com.