CUs Make a Difference for Young Mothers in Need, Cancer Patients

Employees from the $3.5 billion Mission Federal Credit Union in San Diego, Calif., present a $25,000 check to Jacobs and Cushman San Diego Food Bank. Throughout September, as part of Mission Fed’s hunger awareness month campaign, the credit union encouraged San Diegans to visit a branch to donate $5 toward Food 4 Kids, the amount it costs to provide a child with a backpack full of food to last a weekend. The donations came from 31 San Diego County branches; the funds are vital to allowing the food bank to help additional schools from their program’s wait list.

Employees from the $1.3 billion Hanscom Federal Credit Union in Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass., present the Board Memorial Award to the U.S. Army Natick MWR at the Natick Soldiers System Center. The $1,500 grant, which honors past and present Hanscom FCU board members, is given annually to a volunteer group that serves Hanscom FCU’s membership base. Formally known as U.S. Army Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation, the Army MWR manages programs and services that support readiness and resilience for soldiers and their families. The Natick MWR also serves Marines, Coast Guard and Air Force personnel assigned to the NSSC. Services they offer include physical fitness programs, family recreation opportunities, domestic violence prevention and assistance and relocation readiness, as well as other life-enhancing programs. The Natick MWR is especially proud of its Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers program, a support group that encourages participants to engage in community volunteerism, take advantage of local recreational activities, and explore and enjoy cultural and historic venues around Boston.

From left to right, Joshua Rehhaut, community development officer at the $1.2 billion North Island Credit Union in San Diego, Calif., awards San Diego State University freshmen Jaxon Morgan, Deniz Kesim, Aubrey Benito and Ashley Sevilla a $500 shopping spree at Bed Bath & Beyond for a dorm room makeover, plus a $500 SDSU bookstore gift card. Not pictured is SDSU freshman winner Jake Amigo. The five freshmen were winners of North Island’s Dorm Room Makeover program, offered to incoming SDSU freshman living in on-campus housing. Any SDSU freshman living on campus could enter the program. The Dorm Room Makeover program is another way North Island is supporting local students in the San Diego community. This program compliments the credit union’s annual college scholarship, which has awarded more than $285,000 in scholarships to California students.

Walkers from the Altura Cares Team prepare for the 2018 Pink on Parade Breast Cancer Awareness Walk to raise funds for The Pink Ribbon Place, a program of the nonprofit Riverside Community Health Foundation. Thirty-eight employees and their family members from the $1.3 billion Altura Credit Union in Riverside, Calif., raised funds to bring breast cancer services to the local community. Altura was also an event sponsor for the second consecutive year. The Pink Ribbon Place is Riverside’s first breast cancer resource center. It provides support, products and resources to women and men undergoing breast cancer treatment, and their loved ones.

Staff members from the $166 million Landings Credit Union in Tempe, Ariz., help unload food deliveries at Tempe Community Action Agency’s food pantry. October was a big month for Landings, when it celebrated not only International Credit Union Week, but also its 65th birthday on Oct. 19. This year the credit union celebrated by giving back to members and its community. It completed nine community service projects and served five different non-profits over seven days totaling 175 hours. Landings achieved the goal of 100% participation from its 67 employees.

From left to right, Rev. Denise Barker, founder and executive director for Magdalena House, and Greg Stroud, board president for Magdalena House and SVP of marketing and sales for the $9.5 billion Security Service Federal Credit Union in San Antonio, Texas hold a $23,285 check. The Security Service Charitable Foundation donated $23,285 to purchase a van for Magdalena House, a transitional home in San Antonio that serves mothers and children who have fled dangerous and abusive lives. Magdalena House cares for victims of domestic violence, young mothers aging out of foster care, victims of human trafficking, and mothers working through reunification plans with child protective services. It also provides transformation through education, a nurturing community and programming. More than 75% of mothers who have invested in the program (staying at least six months) have completed significant educational milestones such as attaining their GED or associate’s degree, completing an ESL program or receiving other certified training.

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