CUs Raise Money to Feed the Hungry & Care for Animals

From left to right, Jessica Clay, business development officer at the $2.2 billion Numerica Credit Union in Spokane Valley, Wash., presents a $2,754.81 check to Dawn Davies, executive director of Wenatchee Valley Humane Society and Renee Parkins, development chair of Wenatchee Valley Humane Society. Funds were generated during the Numerica Night on the Ridge fundraising event this past January. Proceeds from the event benefited the Wenatchee Valley Humane Society, a resource center providing a variety of services including caring for displaced pets, rescuing injured and lost animals, spay/neuter programs, keeping families and pets together in times of need, providing a pet food bank, behavioral modification, investigating animal cruelties and adoption services.

From left to right, Luke Kellett, assistant professor of anthropology/sustainability coordinator at the University of Maine at Farmington; AJ Saulnier, UMF student and Alexis Paradis, UMF student accept a $3,396 check donation from Brooke York, branch manager at the $305 million University Credit Union in Orono, Maine. The Thrifty Beaver Pantry at UMF assists 15 people per week. During the month of December, University CU raised $25,119.62 for eight self-funded food pantries within the University of Maine System, more than triple what the credit union raised in the first year of its campaign. Credit union staff and leadership have spent the past month visiting food pantries across the state to see how they operate and spread this monetary support.

Employees from the $587 million True Sky Credit Union in Oklahoma City, Okla., present a $2,000 college scholarship check to Destiny Perez, one of two students who received a scholarship during the credit union’s 72nd annual meeting celebration on March 8 at the Oklahoma History Center. Perez is a student at Moore High School, is in the top 10% of her class and will be attending the University of Central Oklahoma.

Employees from the $746 million Solarity Credit Union in Yakima, Wash., volunteer their time to build a house for Habitat for Humanity. Employees also donated $13,467.60 from paycheck contributions as part of a community partnership with Habitat for Humanity. Each year, employees volunteer for Habitat for Humanity, Solarity’s community partner. One of the future homeowners, Judi Montes, provided lunch for the crew, and volunteers had the opportunity to hear her story. Montes is a single parent to three daughters and applied for the Habitat for Humanity program three years ago. She will be receiving the first of five homes built on the Granger property.

Employees from the $454 million Tucson Federal Credit Union in Tucson, Ariz., present a $10,000 check donation to Mobile Meals of Southern Arizona, a charitable organization that delivers more than 100,000 meals annually to homebound seniors and adults with disabilities. TFCU’s donation will fund meal preparation that enables people to remain in their homes. This keeps them out of assisted living communities, saves their families from economic hardship and reduces the risk of homelessness. In total, TFCU awarded three charities a total of $45,000 on March 12. The credit union sets aside this money to pay it forward through TFCU Gives, a program that allows nonprofits to apply for grants.

Employees from the $454 million Tucson Federal Credit Union in Tucson, Ariz., present a $10,000 check donation to Mobile Meals of Southern Arizona, a charitable organization that delivers more than 100,000 meals annually to homebound seniors and adults with disabilities. TFCU’s donation will fund meal preparation that enables people to remain in their homes. This keeps them out of assisted living communities, saves their families from economic hardship and reduces the risk of homelessness. In total, TFCU awarded three charities a total of $45,000 on March 12. The credit union sets aside this money to pay it forward through TFCU Gives, a program that allows nonprofits to apply for grants.

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