CUs Support Education Through School Supply Drives, Scholarships & Donations

Ken Cahoon, president/CEO for the $151 million Democracy Federal Credit Union in Alexandra, Va., smiles from ear to ear at the abundance of supplies that were collected from the branches for the credit union’s school supply drive. The drive brought in nearly 50 backpacks filled with supplies to get the year started right for students, along with a donation of $490 from Democracy partner Mr. James Groves and the National Education Association. From the money raised and matched by Democracy, the credit union gave $150 to four schools to use for a program of their choice.

Employees from the $1.3 billion Kitsap Credit Union in Bremerton, Wash., kick off the first football game of the season at the newly-opened Kitsap Credit Union Cougar Field Athletic Sports Complex in Central Kitsap County. The credit union donated $500,000 for 1,400 bleachers at the new stadium. The inaugural game on Sept. 6 was a great celebration that packed the stadium to standing room only.

President/CEO, Bruce Foulke and SVP of Business Development Dorian Smith from the $2.6 billion American Heritage Credit Union in Philadelphia, Penn., present NAO, an interactive emotional support robot, to Douglas Hock, EVP and COO of the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. NAO is a robot designed to use artificial intelligence to improve the health care experience for patients and families at CHOP. NAO has the ability to sing, dance, speak multiple languages and engage intelligently with those who interact with it. CHOP initially plans to use the robot as a welcoming tool, one that will regularly participate in the hospital’s music therapy program and live television shows. Soon, it will participate in a Bingo program, calling out the numbers and announcing the names of children who win. CHOP has plans in the future to use NAO for bedside visits, helping to motivate children to participate in activities or complete therapy sessions.

Kaycee Childress (right), executive director at the Northwest Federal Credit Union Foundation, and Jeff Bentley (left), president/CEO at the $3.3 billion Northwest Federal Credit Union in Herndon, Va., present a $20,000 donation to Dr. Julie Leidig (center) from Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA). The NWFCU Foundation, the charitable arm of NWFCU, began partnering with NOVA in 2018 by donating $10,000 as a Higher Education Award grant to NOVA-Loudoun’s Lifeline program, which is an emergency relief fund for students at the Loudoun Campus. The NWFCU Foundation established the Higher Education Award in partnership with NOVA to provide assistance to college students on the brink of completing their associate’s degree who, due to an unforeseen circumstance, would not otherwise have the funds to complete their education. In these cases, either the Provost or a dedicated committee from the student’s local NOVA campus can step in and provide funding to help them finish their studies.

The $1.4 billion Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union in Lowell, Mass., donates school supplies to the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Lowell and the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Nashua. In the back row from left are Norman Bouthilette, CEO at the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Nashua and Alison Hughes, community engagement officer at Jeanne D’Arc; in the front row from left are Jaribel, Lizmarie, Silvianis and Zoey, members of the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Nashua. With the help of its generous members and employees, Jeanne D’Arc collected hundreds of school supplies for the two organizations. From July 15 to 26, the credit union made boxes available in each of its branch locations for members and employees to make donations.

Jeff Olson, president/CEO of the Credit Union Association of the Dakotas (CUAD), poses for a photo with Darla Schafer, board chair for the Credit Union Foundation of the Dakotas (CUFD), during the foundation’s third Annual Golf Scramble fundraiser on Aug. 29 at the Apple Creek Country Club in Bismarck, N.D. The CUFD is the charitable arm of the CUAD. With the participation of more than 40 golfers as well as event sponsors, nearly $8,000 was raised in one afternoon to support the ongoing work of the CUFD. The foundation will use the money to build more community awareness of Dakota credit unions through support of children’s charities, community and social impact organizations or projects, financial education and financial literacy programs, and to provide higher education scholarships throughout North and South Dakota. Most recently, the CUFD awarded $10,000 in scholarships to area students.

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