Honoring the Military and Keeping Kids Warm: Community News

Elementary school children gather with representatives from the $11.98 billion, Sandy, Utah-based Mountain America Credit Union in their new winter coats. On Feb. 10, Mountain America, in partnership with Operation Warm, an organization that gifts brand-new winter coats to children in need, distributed over 200 coats at Tendoy Elementary School in Pocatello, Idaho. The credit union is giving an additional 2,000 coats to children in need at other Pocatello schools. During the past three football and men’s basketball seasons, Mountain America has committed a charitable donation for every first-down and 3-pointer completed by the Idaho State Bengals. This season, Mountain America selected Operation Warm as the recipient of those donations.

Recipients of Alaska USA Federal Credit Union’s Service Person of the Year award receive appreciation baskets from Alaska USA Manager, Military Branch Operations Erik Lind (far left), Alaska USA SVP, Corporate Relations Dan McCue (second from right) and Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska, far right). The $9.78 billion, Anchorage-based Alaska USA recently honored members of Alaska’s armed forces, including 12 recipients of the Service Person of the Year award and Military Spouse of the Year, at Alaska USA’s 26th Annual Military Appreciation Breakfast in Anchorage. Due to COVID-19, this year’s event was held outside the Historic Anchorage Hotel in a curbside pickup style. Honorees received an appreciation basket filled with breakfast goods and appreciation videos. The Service Person of the Year honorees were nominated by their supervisors and underwent a panel interview. These exceptional enlisted service members, representing each of the active-duty branches of the Guard and Reserve, were recognized and awarded for their outstanding achievements. The military breakfast takes place in conjunction with the Armed Services YMCA Alaska (ASYMCA) annual Salute to the Military event.

From left to right, Dort Financial Credit Union Vice President of Human Resources Deana Turcott and Dort Financial CEO Vicki Hawkins present a check to Sister Carol Weber of St. Luke N.E.W. Life Center on Feb. 3. The $1.2 billion, Grand Blanc, Mich.-based Dort Financial recently announced the results of its 2020 Annual Snowman Sales fundraiser benefiting two local charities – St. Luke N.E.W. Life Center, a faith-based life skills education center in Flint, Mich., and the Flint-based Child Advocacy Team, which provides legal services to minors. The charities, selected by Dort Financial employees, split the proceeds totaling $15,936. Funds were raised in the months of November and December from credit union members and team members through in-branch purchases of paper snowmen.

Justin Bamford (left), board member for the Moon Chapter of Credit Unions and CEO of the $142.3 million, Whitehall, Mich.-based HarborLight Credit Union, presents a check to Feeding America West Michigan Development Manager Susie Dutcher. The Moon Chapter of Credit Unions, which is comprised of 15 credit unions headquartered in Michigan’s Muskegon, Ottawa, Oceana and Newaygo Counties, recently donated $10,811.32 to local food bank Feeding America West Michigan as the result of a fundraising campaign to reduce the region’s food insecurity, “Credit Unions Feed West Michigan.” The campaign’s goal was to raise $10,000 for families in need, starting with a $2,500 donation from both the Moon Chapter and the Michigan Credit Union Foundation. The campaign quickly exceeded its goal, reaching $10,811 with the help of 10 participating credit unions.

Thorpe Miller (right), vice president of business development and marketing for Indiana Members Credit Union, presents a check to Fred Duncan, director and CEO for the Little Red Door Cancer Agency. The $2.65 billion, Indianapolis-based IMCU recently donated $10,000 to the agency as part of its Cancer Awareness Debit Card Program. IMCU members nominate a different local cancer-related organization to be the beneficiary each year. Little Red Door Cancer Agency was selected for the past year, receiving a contribution for each signature-based transaction made with the IMCU Cancer Awareness Debit Card from March 2020 to February 2021. The card is available for issue to members at IMCU’s 30 Indiana locations, is open to members with a free checking account and can be issued immediately via IMCU’s instant issue program. The Indianapolis-based Little Red Door Cancer Agency helps underserved Hoosiers battling cancer, educates the public about cancer prevention and provides survivor health programming to underinsured and uninsured people in central and east central Indiana.

Laura Galeski, Hanscom Federal Credit Union’s social responsibility manager, drops off 142 blankets for the Cooperative Credit Union Association’s annual Gift of Warmth blanket drive benefitting the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless. The $1.6 billion, Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass.-based Hanscom FCU has participated in the blanket drive for over a decade. The Gift of Warmth drive supports the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless’ A Bed for Every Child initiative, which not only provides blankets for children receiving a bed, but also bedding, pajamas and stuffed animals.

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