CUs End a Challenging Year by Giving to Communities

The $3 billion, Tullahoma, Tenn.-based Ascend Federal Credit Union donated $50,000 to Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, located in Nashville. Ascend employees raised funds for the hospital by participating in the credit union’s annual Miracle Jeans Day and Miracle Treat Day. Over several years, Ascend donated $100,000 toward the construction of the hospital’s Pediatric Heart Institute, a 38-bed, 40,000-square-foot space on the 10th floor. A room on the 10th floor was named for Ascend in honor of its commitment to the health of children in Middle Tennessee and beyond. Ascend also has been a presenting sponsor of 107.5 FM The River’s “River of Hope Radiothon” for 10 years, and Ascend President/CEO Caren Gabriel has served on the Children’s Hospital Advisory Board since 2018. Ascend has donated more than $258,000 to the children’s hospital since 1998. Pictured from left to right are Erin Spence, assistant vice president of business development; Leslie Copeland, chief strategy officer; Gabriel; Matt Jernigan, EVP; and Leah Bowen, marketing project lead (all with Ascend).

Business owner Brian Schwartz (second from left), shows off his new snow blower. Employees from the $5 billion, Endwell, N.Y.-based Visions Federal Credit Union’s Saddle Brook, N.J., branch donated the snow blower to Schwartz, who was laid off in June due to the pandemic.  Schwartz started his own business mowing lawns for the elderly and veterans in the community when he was laid off. He now has started his own charitable initiative removing snow from the driveways of seniors. The donation was part of Visions’ Acts of Kindness program, a movement the credit union started in 2016 as part of its 50th anniversary. The program is about putting a smile on someone’s face, whether it’s with a cup of coffee, a free family night at the movies or in this case, a snow blower.

From left to right, Carolyn Perla, SVP of retail banking and marketing for the $532 million, Fitchburg, Mass.-based IC Federal Credit Union; Jennifer Maguy, community coordinator for IC; Linda Cavaioli, executive director of the YWCA; and Christine Lane-Monette, SVP/CFO for IC present a check donation for the YWCA of Central MA. IC’s board of directors approved the $15,000 donation for the YWCA of Central MA’s “Leading with Integrity and Vision for Equality Campaign.” The organization’s building in Worcester, Mass., is undergoing its first renovation since it opened in 1961, and the donation will help it to reach its fundraising goal.

Texas Trust Credit Union ($1.5 billion, Arlington, Texas) CEO Jim Minge (left) and COO Ginia Chapline present a donation to the North Texas Food Bank. Texas Trust recently gave $25,000 to three charities that provide food for the hungry, which will allow them to provide more than 131,000 meals to those in need. The North Texas Food Bank received more than $20,000 from Texas Trust, the East Texas Food Bank received more than $2,700 and Rust Street Ministries in San Angelo, Texas received $2,300. The donations were provided by Texas Trust members and employees, and included a matching donation from the Texas Trust Gives Foundation. Each of the charities support people in need in communities where Texas Trust’s members live and work.

Amy Etheridge (right) with the $3.2 billion, Warner Robins, Ga.-based Robins Financial Credit Union presents a donation to Elizabeth Carter with ABBA House, a Perry, Ga.-based provider of a safe place where women can recover from abuse or addiction and find healing. For its “25 Days of Holiday Giving,” Robins Financial selected 25 different organizations throughout its county radius to support. Aside from the ABBA House, the following organizations received a donation during the fourth week of the program:

• Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Heart of Georgia in Macon, Ga., which provides children facing adversity with strong and enduring, professionally supported, one-to-one relationships that change their lives for the better.
• Monroe County DFCS in Forsyth, Ga., which handles family support and social services as well as provides assistance to foster children in Monroe County.
• The Senior Center in Gray, Ga., which assists the elderly and homebound residents.
• The Swainsboro Rotary Club in Swainsboro, Ga., which helps local families by providing Christmas gifts and meals to those in need.
• TLC CASA in Dublin, Ga., which provides supportive services to abused and neglected children and their families to improve outcomes for children, and support children in having safe, permanent, forever families.

From left to right, vice president of marketing and business development for the $431 million, Woodstock, Ga.-based Credit Union of Georgia; Ronnie Boyles, owner of Guthrie’s Chicken; and Kathy Day, EVP/COO for the Credit Union of Georgia prepare to transport catered lunches.  In April 2020, Credit Union of Georgia began catering lunches from local restaurants every Friday for its staff to boost their spirits and show appreciation for all of their hard work during such difficult and uncertain times. By providing weekly lunches and treats, the credit union has given over $36,000 to support local restaurants in 2020. The credit union did not start out intending to make the catered lunches a weekly occurrence, but after working with its first restaurant, it saw an opportunity to support its community as the food industry took a major hit from COVID-19. Throughout 2020, Credit Union of Georgia worked with nearly 20 local restaurants and continues to partner with more. One of those is Guthrie’s Chicken, which has multiple locations in the metro Atlanta area and has seen a dramatic drop in dine-in guests but continues to serve customers at drive-thru windows.

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