Credit Unions Cut Checks for Parks, Hospitals & Churches

From left to right, Aisha Jasper, community development liaison for Visions Federal Credit Union; Emily Ellis, part-time marketing clerk for Visions; Ashley Peck, learning and development specialist for Visions; Maggie Zick, certified child life specialist for Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital; and Toni Gary, assistant vice president of community relations and development for Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital pose with a collection of donated stuffed animals and lollipops outside the hospital in Syracuse, N.Y. The $4.9 billion, Endwell, N.Y.-based Visions made the donations on Aug. 18 as part of its Visions Acts of Kindness Project. Visions’ employees volunteered their time to make the delivery and meet with the staff at Golisano.

The SECU Foundation, a charitable organization funded by members of the $45.1 billion, Raleigh, N.C.-based SECU, awarded a $250,000 general purpose grant to the Hospice and Home Care Foundation (HHCF) of North Carolina. The grant will help the HHCF of North Carolina maintain a supply of personal protective equipment for in-home health care and hospice service providers who are unable to meet minimum order requirements to purchase equipment for their staff.  Every $50,000 in funding provides a three-month supply of PPE for 90 staff members. The HHCF of North Carolina was established by the Association for Home and Hospice Care of NC in 1998 and represents 750 home health agencies. Pictured from left to right are Tim Rogers and Judy Penn, president/CEO and executive director for the Association for Home and Hospice Care of NC; and Jo Anne Sanford and Jama Campbell, board chair and executive director for the SECU Foundation.

Aline Dykes (left), a representative for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and grandmother of a patient, accepts a $500 check from New Horizons Credit Union President/CEO Edith Franklin. Each year, employees at the $226 million, Mobile, Ala.-based New Horizons vote on which charities they would like to support as part of their Horizons Helping Hands community outreach program. This year, St. Jude was selected due to its uniqueness; unlike most children’s hospitals, much of the funding comes from individual contributions.

The $607 million Peach State Federal Credit Union in Lawrenceville, Ga., donated $1,000 to the Paul Anderson Memorial Park located in Toccoa, Ga. The park, owned and operated by the Paul Anderson Memorial Park Foundation, was established in honor of and pays tribute to Olympic gold medalist Paul Anderson. Pictured from left to right in front of the park’s fountain are Roger Sheppard, board chairman for the Park Foundation; Gary Bellamy, treasurer for the Park Foundation; and David Welden, board chairman for PSFCU.

Mario Mejia (right), vice president of delivery channels for Democracy Federal Credit Union, presents a $500 check donation to Melanie Gray, director of outreach and mission at Christ Church in Alexandria, Va. The $171 million, Alexandria-based Democracy FCU’s relationship with Christ Church began in early 2020 as a partner to help address financial literacy needs in and around the Alexandria community. The credit union’s relationship with the church expanded as needs changed and increased due to COVID-19.

Please send your Community news items to Natasha Chilingerian at nchilingerian@cutimes.com.