Credit Unions Present Donations & Scholarships

As part of its 13th annual scholarship program, the $783 million Point Breeze Credit Union in Hunt Valley, Md., awards $22,500 in scholarships to 15 local high school students. The students, each of whom received a scholarship totaling $1,500, competed for the scholarship by submitting an application in which they explained their involvement in high school activities and the community, a letter of acceptance from the college or trade school of their choice, a personal reference and an academic reference. In addition, students had to submit two essays, one in which they described their goals and how their plan of study would help them to achieve those goals, and a second in which they discussed what they expected their priority expenses to be during school, how they will budget for them and what additional expenses they will budget for after college.

Scholarship winners Jamyse Robinson, Morgan Setliff, Isaiah Goodly, Peyton Watson and Ambria Cook accept their awards at the annual business meeting for the $403 million Pelican State Credit Union in Baton Rouge, La. They are among 14 college-bound students to receive an award from Pelican State, which granted $15,000 in awards this year. The Heart for Service Award was created to honor a student who exhibited outstanding service and dedication to their community, and the Pelican Perseverance Award was created to help a student who displayed strength and commitment to overcome adversity and challenges in their life. Both awards were given to one highly deserving student, bringing the total number of scholarship winners to 14.

From left to right, Joe Bean from the $676 million Liberty Bay Credit Union in Braintree, Mass., John Howard, president/CEO of the $1 billion Merrimack Valley Credit Union in Lawrence, Mass., Steve Hile from Liberty Bay and Brad Egan from Merrimack Valley pose for a photo during Merrimack Valley’s 19th annual golf tournament. The credit union raised more than $22,000 during the event. All funds raised will benefit the Merrimack Valley Charities Fund, which enables the credit union to support more than 60 local nonprofits with fundraising activities throughout the year.

Employees from the $1 billion Bay Federal Credit Union in Capitola, Calif., present a $11,285 donation to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Santa Cruz County during their annual Bowl for Kids’ Sake pledge drive. Twenty-one teams of Bay Federal employees and their families filled the Boardwalk Bowl to support the organization and donate funds at the annual event. Bay Federal has participated in the Bowl for Kids’ Sake pledge drive for 28 consecutive years. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Santa Cruz County, which pairs adult volunteer mentors with at-risk youths in the community, uses the money to pay for operating costs and ongoing support for children and families in its program. All the money raised for Bowl for Kids’ Sake stays local.

Doron Noyman, vice president of sales and development at the $1.3 billion KeyPoint Credit Union in Santa Clara, Calif., presents a $20,000 donation to Tracy Wingrove, director at the Santa Clara Library Foundation at the Summer Reading Program check presentation event.

Employees from the $1.3 billion Firefly Credit Union in Burnsville, Minn., gather for a picture with a $4,461 donation to the American Cancer Society Hope Lodge of Minneapolis. Firefly dedicated the month of May to raising money the organization that gives cancer patients and their caregivers a homelike place to stay during cancer treatment. With support from volunteers and donations, the program provides lodging for patients and their caregivers at no cost. During the month of May, Firefly employees were given the opportunity to donate money and participate in a wide array of fun activities.

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