Computers for Students & ‘Millionaire for a Day’: Community News
Credit unions also announce monetary support for food banks and children’s hospitals.
The $9.3 billion Mountain America Credit Union in Sandy, Utah donated 70 computers to Salt Lake Community College students through a new program that provides computers to students who can’t purchase one on their own. Pictured is Tim Mugridge, 56 (second from right), receiving a donated computer. He is the oldest student at the Redwood Campus, a freshman working on his film degree, and a disabled Army veteran. The students receiving the computers have spent long hours in the computer lab or relied on public computers to complete homework assignments.
Executives from the $4.6 billion Desert Financial Credit Union in Phoenix and representatives from the Phoenix Children’s Hospital Foundation celebrate the announcement of a $3 million planned donation to the hospital’s 1 Darn Cool School Program. From left to right are Jeff Meshey, president/CEO for Desert Financial; Tim Harrison, vice president corporate partnerships and special events for the Phoenix Children’s Hospital Foundation; Ron Amstutz, EVP for Desert Financial; and Susan O’Donnell, manager, corporate account management for the Phoenix Children’s Hospital Foundation. The commitment comes after Desert Financial completed a $2 million pledge from 2018. The total given and pledged by Desert Financial to 1 Darn Cool School has now reached $10 million, making the credit union the program’s largest donor.
Members and employees from Bay Federal Credit Union in Capitola, Calif., display the results of the money they raised for the Second Harvest Food Bank’s Holiday Food Drive. Thanks to Second Harvest’s partnerships with farmers, retailers and food bank networks, this translates into 74,762 healthy meals for families in Santa Cruz County. Members and employees also donated non-perishable food items to Second Harvest food barrels at each location during the food drive. Bay Federal has supported Second Harvest Food Bank for 22 years. In Santa Cruz County, one in five people face hunger and one in four is a child. Second Harvest Food Bank’s mission is to end hunger through healthy food, education and leadership.
Shelia Scott (left), community financial education and business development officer at the $750 million LAFCU in Lansing, Mich., explains to high school senior Emma Granger that giving back to her community is an important value to consider when creating a budget. At their January fair, 10 LAFCU employees and several Lansing Christian School faculty members provided one-on-one guidance to students tasked with creating real-life financial budgets. Using estimated salaries based on pre-selected careers as well as assigned credit scores, students visited 12 booths to identify expenses likely to be incurred when living independently.
Melanie Dupard (left), member and guest relations officer; and Jeffrey K. Conrad (right), president/CEO for the $396 million Pelican State Credit Union in Baton Rouge, La., present the 2019’s Pelican Perseverance and Heart for Service award winner Morgan Setliff with a $2,000 scholarship check. In 12 years, Pelican State’s scholarship program has awarded more than $80,000 to high school graduates across the state of Louisiana. Pelican State plans to award $15,000 in college scholarships in 2020. It will continue to grant $1,000 scholarship awards to 11 college-bound members in its branch communities across Louisiana, one member living out of state and one member related to a Pelican State employee. The credit union will also continue offering its $1,000 “Heart for Service” and “Pelican Perseverance” awards. The “Heart for Service” award is granted to a student who exhibited outstanding service and dedication to their community, and the “Pelican Perseverance” award is granted to a student who exhibited strength and commitment to overcome adversity and challenges in their life.
Emily Testa (second from right), a second grade student at George D. Ryder Elementary School in the Cobleskill-Richmondville Central School District in Cobleskill, N.Y., visits 99.5 The River. The $335 million First New York Federal Credit Union in Albany, N.Y, treated Testa like a millionaire for a day, which included an on-air interview with 99.5 The River on Facebook Live. The credit union has been teaching thousands of area students for years to save their money through its KID$ (Keep Investing Dollars Savings) Program. To celebrate the students’ success, the credit union randomly selected a school banker to be treated like a millionaire. As the millionaire for a day, Testa and her classmates were treated to a pizza lunch and ice cream social. She also received a backpack full of school supplies, a gift certificate to Dave and Busters and a millionaire T-shirt.
Please send your Community news items to Tahira Hayes at thayes@cutimes.com.