CUs End 2019 With Community Service Events & Donations

Employees from the $735 million LAFCU in Lansing, Mich., take on the role of Santa’s helpers for the credit union’s annual Breakfast With Santa on Dec. 14, 2019 at LAFCU’s headquarters/West Lansing branch. The party was free and open to the public as a community service event organized by the credit union, and was attended by more than 150 children and parents. LAFCU and Santa’s helpers – a.k.a. LAFCU employees – provided a free breakfast, holiday crafts, cookie decorating and the opportunity to have photos taken with Santa.

John Mohler, 68, vice president/director of internal audit at the $3.1 billion Tower Federal Credit Union in Laurel, Md., nears the finish line with his four-year-old grandson during the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, D.C. Mohler ran as part of the Autism Speaks team in honor of his grandson who is autistic. He started running marathons at age 60 and has completed races in all 50 U.S. States plus the District of Columbia in just eight years.

Team members from the $7.2 billion Patelco Credit Union in Pleasanton, Calif., present a check to Shawnda Bost, volunteer coordinator at Open Heart Kitchen of Pleasanton at the new Patelco headquarters in Dublin, Calif. Team members surprised and delighted their members and community food banks throughout Northern California during the week of Dec. 16 by distributing $61,000. The bulk of the donations were gifted to food-related organizations struggling to meet the needs of their communities during the holiday season. Additionally, Patelco team members distributed nearly 400 gift cards to members facing challenges during this holiday season.

Employees from the $5.9 billion Ent Credit Union in Colorado Springs, Colo., raised $241,306 for United Way during its annual fall fundraiser, continuing its 13-year record of contributing more than $100,000 to the nonprofit. Ent staff donated to United Way via voluntary employee payroll deductions, internal fundraising activities and employee-led fundraising partnerships with area businesses. The fundraising is a more than 20-year tradition at Ent. Pictured from left to right are Ent 2019 United Way Campaign co-chairs Amber Stansauk, project management director, Lori Velie, service area manager and Marnie Gerkhardt, emerging development leader.

To help ring in the holiday season, staff members from the $270 million Sperry Associates Federal Credit Union in Garden City Park, N.Y., donate a set of pots and pans to the Ronald McDonald House of Long Island before working to prepare dinner for the House’s 90 guests. The cookware donated by the credit union pairs well with the House’s specialized induction cooktops, which require certain types of pots and pans. From left to right are Roshini Cariappa, Gregory Gietz, Laureen Feehan, Kevin J. Healy, Matt Campo, Susan Hill, Meiyuan Ma, Elleana Raghunandan, Safiya Ellis, Ellen Devenuto and Richard Murdocco. The Ronald McDonald House serves as a “home away from home” for families with sick children across the region. By providing comfort and lodging to families experiencing the pain of having a sick child in area hospitals, the House provides the parents and siblings of these children with a temporary haven in a secure and comfortable environment among other families sharing a similar burden.

Staff from the $446 million Nutmeg State Financial Credit Union in New Haven, Conn., attend the Walk to End Alzheimer’s event in New Haven. The credit union closed out its year of charity work as the main sponsor of Alzheimer’s Association events in New Haven and Hartford, Conn., where they donated nearly $15,000 to benefit the support and research of the disease. The credit union made great strides last year in its mission to benefit communities across the state. With more than 1,200 hours of staff participation at 100 public events, the credit union was among some of the most committed organizations to community and charity initiatives in 2019.

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