Standing Up for At-Risk Children: Community News
CUs support organizations dedicated to ending child abuse, caring for sick children and helping girls become confident leaders.
Chairman of the Board Larry Ridenour, President/CEO Dale Owen, and SVP and Chief Marketing Officer Jennifer Naeve from the $424 million Ascentra Credit Union in Bettendorf, Iowa, present a check during a Girl Scout troop meeting at Ridgewood Elementary School in Rock Island on Feb. 20. Nearly 2,000 girls’ lives are being changed through a new Girl Scouts community outreach program. The Ascentra Credit Union Foundation partnered with the Girl Scouts through a $50,000 grant that contributes to the program’s first three years. The distribution of the grant gives $20,000 to the Girl Scouts in 2019; $10,000 plus a $5,000 match incentive in 2020; and $10,000 plus another $5,000 match incentive in 2021. The Girl Scouts will raise an additional $5,000 each year from outside sources to match these incentives. This guarantees $40,000 with a potential $10,000 in incentives, totaling $50,000. The program directly supports at-risk girls in the underserved areas of Moline, Rock Island, Davenport and Muscatine in Iowa by building courage, confidence and character through a Girl Scout Leadership Experience.
Executives from $4.6 billion, Phoenix-based Desert Financial Credit Union and the Phoenix Children’s Hospital Foundation showcase a check for $500,000. The money was raised at Desert Financial’s annual Golf Tournament. Desert Financial’s annual tournament benefits PCH through the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, an international non-profit organization operating for the sole purpose of providing funds for children’s hospitals, medical research and fostering community awareness of children’s health issues.
Team members from the $16.7 billion SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union in Santa Ana, Calif., assemble 750 school-supply backpacks with personal messages of encouragement as part of the Community HeART program. SchoolsFirst team members will deliver the backpacks to schools in need throughout California. Twenty-four hundred team members supported the credit union movement’s philosophy of “people helping people,” working side-by-side to create a positive impact on communities served by SchoolsFirst. This year, team members supported two charitable causes, the Jessie Rees Foundation, which supports child cancer patients, and Community HeART, a program that creates stimulating artwork to brighten the experiences of children in schools, communities and hospitals.
The $807 million Santa Clara County Federal Credit Union in San Jose, Calif., recently concluded its annual Teddy Bears on Patrol program, which has delivered Teddy Bears to children in Santa Clara County for more than two decades. Members of the Morgan Hill Police Department deliver teddy bears to children at risk as part of the program. This holiday season, the program brought in more than 1,600 bears through generous donations from the philanthropic members of the County Federal family. The bears were distributed to local law enforcement agencies, school districts and organizations such as Santa Clara County Social Services, Chamberlain’s Youth Services and the Family Violence Center of San Jose to help bring joy to children suffering from trauma or illness.
Nearly 200 team members from the $728 million SCE Credit Union in Irwindale, Calif., put together personal care packages for young adults in the Olive Crest Operation Independence Los Angeles program, a non-profit organization dedicated to ending the cycle of child abuse. The care packages contained personal care items such as toothbrushes and shampoo. They also presented a donation of $5,000 to the organization. With the help of this donation, 30 young adults who enter the program will have the basics they need in their new home, such as towels, sheets, clothing, dishes and more, so they can start their new adult life on the right foot.
Noe Reyes (left), Harlingen assistant branch manager; Edna Garcia (second from left), assistant vice president of member service – South Texas; and Julie Balboa (second from right), vice president of member service – South Texas, all from the $9.8 billion Security Service Federal Credit Union in San Antonio, Texas, present Bill Reagan (center), executive director for Loaves and Fishes, and Minerva Simpson (right), board of directors president for Loaves and Fishes, with a donation for $5,000.
Please send your Community news items to Tahira Hayes at thayes@cutimes.com.