CUs Kick Off a Charitable Summer With Golf & Ice Cream

Two children enjoy ice cream cones during Memorial Day weekend. As part of its new “Official Credit Union of Summer” campaign, the Los Alamitos, Calif.-based $771 million Southland Credit Union invited local residents to cool off during the long weekend with free ice cream from a Recess food truck at its Long Beach, Calif., branch on May 25. Additionally, as part of its Official Credit Union of Summer campaign, Southland will participate in local beach cleanups, and a backpack and school supply drive. Each branch will have a donation box on display from June to August where members can drop off items including backpacks, notebooks, pencils, pens, art supplies and more.

John Howard, president/CEO of the $1 billion Merrimack Valley Credit Union in Lawrence, Mass., presents Samuel Acquaviva of Newburyport, Mass., with a $2,000 scholarship. Merrimack Valley contributed half of the scholarship, while its student loan partner, Credit Union Student Choice, contributed the other half. Acquaviva will graduate from Newburyport High School and attend the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, majoring in chemical engineering. The credit union also awarded six Massachusetts students and two New Hampshire students with $1,000 scholarships.

Tony Pickens, branch manager for the $1.4 billion KEMBA Financial Credit Union in Gahanna, Ohio, awards a scholarship to credit union member and current Ohio State University student Aarushi Gautam Kini. Kini was one of four scholarship winners. In total, KEMBA Financial awarded $11,000 in scholarships in 2019. Applicants answered the question, “How will your studies in college contribute to your immediate or long-range career plans, and how do you plan to use your education to make a positive impact on society, living up to your standard of social responsibility?” Entries were submitted via video and judged on content, originality and creativity.

Vic Samuels, vice president of community relations at the $1 billion, Greenbelt, Md.-based Educational Systems Federal Credit Union, gives Pathways Schools Young Entrepreneurship Program students a tour of the Credit Union’s Rockville Branch. During the visit, students talked to employees in the accounting and marketing departments, and contact center. Each department offered insight on how the credit union serves its members. Students learned about creating and executing a marketing campaign, helping members with their financial needs through the contact center, and how the credit union provides guidance for financial security. The credit union also presented each student with a certificate of completion for the training session. Since its inception in 2007, the Pathways Schools’ vocational program has benefitted more than 200 students.

Bill Hallmark Scholarship for Engineering recipient Andrew Tran poses with Washima Huq, a business community engagement partner from the $1.3 billion Texas Trust Credit Union, and Luke Lechman, Rita Hamner Fine Arts Scholarship recipient. The two college scholarships, named in honor of former board members, total $8,000, and each recipient will receive $1,000 each year for up to four years.

We Promise kid hero Ember enjoys buzzing about Thanksgiving Point Golf Course in Lehi, Utah to thank golfers for their support during the We Promise Foundation’s 4th annual Putting 4 Promises Golf Tournament. Thanks to the generosity of sponsors and supporters, the event raised $62,680 for children facing medical challenges in Utah. The We Promise Foundation is the charitable arm of the $2.2 billion Chartway Federal Credit Union in Virginia Beach, Va. Golfers and guests were joined by several We Promise heroes, who arrived by limousine and received cheers and high-fives from participants. They also had the opportunity to cruise around the course in golf carts, learning from players how to hold an iron and sink a putt.

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