Credit Unions Volunteer on Columbus Day & Donate to Nonprofits

Employees from the $2.5 billion Ascend Federal Credit Union in Tullahoma, Tenn., dress in costume for this year’s Costumed for a Cure benefiting the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Pictured from left to right in the first row are Gabby Jackson and Erin Spence; in the second row, left to right, are Jamie Gilliam, Tiffany Holland, Jennifer Stratton, Bri Malaspino, Leah Bowen, Greg Davis, Amy Taylor and Rachel Carden. The credit union raised $2,190 from the event, bringing its 13-year total to $33,353 to help the LLS fight blood-borne cancers. Members were invited to visit an Ascend branch on Halloween and vote for their favorite costume or pumpkin by providing a donation.

Brian Barkdull (right), president/CEO of the $240 million American Southwest Credit Union in Sierra Vista, Ariz., poses for a photo during a check presentation. American Southwest, in partnership with the Annual Cochise County Sheriff’s Charity Ride, donated $10,000 to each of three charities: Border Animal Rescue, Civil Vision Warrior Healing Project and the Willcox Quarterback Club.

Employees from the PenFed Foundation and the $24.7 billion, McLean, Va.-based Pentagon Federal Credit Union meet WestPoint (center), the newest member of the PenFed team from Canine Companions for Independence. WestPoint is preparing to become an assistance dog and joined the team on Halloween. WestPoint’s puppy raiser is retired Army General John “Mick” Nicholson, PenFed Foundation resident and the first four-star general to raise an assistance dog.

From left to right, Autumn Thiel, member advisor III; Becky Finger, member advisor III; Jackie Mathiasen, controller; Lisa Schreifels, mortgage loan officer; and Vonda Dickey, vice president of organizational development at the $200 million St. Cloud Financial Credit Union in St. Cloud, Minn., help with a fall clean up at Quiet Oaks Hospice during the credit union’s fifth annual Community Day of Giving on Columbus Day. The credit union closed its doors on Columbus Day so employees could volunteer and make a difference in the community. Members and an employee-led team determined the locations where volunteers would donate their time. Six local non-profit organizations were selected and 70 employees volunteered.

The $179 million Taunton Federal Credit Union in Taunton, Mass., donated $2,000 to Pro-Home, Inc., a Taunton-based nonprofit housing counseling agency. The commitment will provide a total of $6,000 in donations to the agency over the next three years. From left to right are Rachel Bartolomeo, Taunton FCU’s vice president of lending and director of Pro-Home, Inc.; Michael J. Duff, executive director of Pro-Home, Inc.; and Nelson Tavares, Taunton FCU’s president/CEO.

Employees from the $11.5 billion American First Credit Union show off donated food for the Utah Food Bank. In total, the credit union donated 17,500 pounds to the organization. An additional 4,725 pounds of food was donated to other agencies including Southern Nevada’s Three Square and Northern Utah’s Catholic Community Services. The nonperishable food items were collected during the credit union’s 15th annual food drive; AFCU also donated $5,000 worth of turkeys.

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