CU Donations Benefit Cancer Research, Domestic Violence Victims & Food Banks

Kahlan Curry from the $1.8 billion Dupaco Community Credit Union in Dubuque, Iowa helps students during a financial literacy lesson on Oct. 9 at Tri-County Head Start in Waterloo, Iowa. A three-way partnership between Dupaco Community, the Tri-County Child and Family Development Council and the CUNA Mutual Group Foundation is teaching three and four year olds the value of money and savings to put them on the path to financial wellness. The financial literacy class called “It starts with me!” teaches 200 Head Start children in Waterloo about money and helps them start saving. It also jump-starts the children’s savings accounts by providing their first deposits. The monthly series of money lessons will cover everything from where money comes from to how to spend and save it.

Employees from the $152 million Homefield Credit Union in North Grafton, Mass., participate in the 21st Annual UMass Cancer Walk & Run on Sept. 22. The Homefield Allstars Team joined thousands of others who either walked or ran along the five-mile route in Worcester, Mass. The team raised $5,000. Due to the overwhelming generosity of so many, this year’s UMass Cancer Walk & Run raised more than $750,000. All money raised will support adult and pediatric cancer research and care, and fund clinical trials of new, potentially lifesaving cancer therapies at UMass.

Nancy Aurora, (second from right) Islandia branch manager at the $1 billion Suffolk Federal Credit Union in Medford, N.Y., presents a $1,000 donation to representatives from the Victims Information Bureau of Suffolk. Established in 1976, VIBS has been a pioneer in the domestic violence and crisis movements. Its mission is to assist survivors of violence, assault, abuse and human trafficking, to prevent the incidence of these crimes through education and service, and to raise community awareness of the need for justice and compassion for victims.

Members of Hanscom Federal Credit Union’s board of directors, Hanscom employees and Freedom House employees celebrate the $1,000 donation as Katrina Shaw (center), CEO of Freedom House, holds the ceremonial check at the grand opening of the South Bay branch of the $1.4 billion Hanscom in Dorchester, Mass. The mission of Freedom House is to transform the economic and cultural fabric of high-need communities through education and leadership development; it serves young people in the greater Boston area.

From left to right, Student Choice President/CEO Scott Patterson presents the 2019 Honor Roll Award to Jon Reske, vice president of marketing at the $500 million UMassFive College Federal Credit Union in Hadley, Mass., and Craig Boivin, UMass College FCU assistant vice president of marketing. The award recognizes excellence in higher education financing and is given in conjunction with a $5,000 Chip Filson Scholarship that credit union awards to a deserving member. The scholarship is given to UMassFive College FCU in honor of Chip Filson, a credit union industry icon and former Student Choice board member who played an influential role in the founding and ongoing development of Credit Union Student Choice.

1st United Credit Union President/CEO Steve Stone and COO Ed Renteria present a $12,250 donation to representatives from the Alameda County Community Food Bank at a recent Oakland A’s game. For the eighth consecutive year, the $1 billion 1st United in Pleasanton, Calif., teamed up with the Oakland A’s as an official sponsor to support the Alameda County Community Food Bank through Homeruns for Hunger. For every home run the A’s hit during the regular season, 1st United committed to donate $50 to the Food Bank. 1st United believes in supporting its local community and hometown teams. To date, 1st United has donated over $74,000 to the Alameda County Community Food Bank through Homeruns for Hunger. According to the Alameda County Community Food Bank, one in five residents require food support. For 1st United, partnering with the Food Bank is a means to helping its neighbors. Being able to tie this effort in with local sports teams is an added bonus – members and employees enjoy rooting for their local teams, and knowing that every home run provides food for the community gives that spirit new meaning.

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