Starbucks Cards for the Military & Virtual Financial Education: Community News

The $1.1 billion, Honolulu-based Aloha Pacific Federal Credit Union presented 300 $10 Starbucks gift cards in appreciation for the Hawaii National Guard’s service to the community on March 22. The gift cards were supported by a matching grant from the Armed Forces Financial Network, whose mission is to increase the versatility of participating financial institutions to better serve the U.S. military. Pictured from left to right during the presentation are Command Sergeant Major Dana Wingad, Aloha Pacific’s Tram Oh and Vivien Salvador, Major General Kenneth S. Hara and Colonel Stephen Logan.

In 2020, the United Way of Anchorage needed a new space to call home, and turned to its partners in the community to ask for help and support in the process of finding a new space. The $9.78 billion, Anchorage-based Alaska USA Federal Credit Union stepped up to that request and offered space in the Alaska USA office downtown on Juneau Street. Along with the office space, Alaska USA presented United Way of Anchorage with $42,000. The funds were comprised of employee donations and a generous corporate match contribution. Pictured from left to right during the check presentation are Alaska USA SVP, Corporate Relations Dan McCue, Alaska USA President/CEO Geoff Lundfelt, Alaska USA Chief Administration Officer Rachel Norman and United Way of Anchorage President/CEO Clark Halvorson.

From left to right, Susan O’Donnell, director of Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) at the Phoenix Children’s Hospital Foundation, receives a check from Ron Amstutz, EVP for Desert Financial Credit Union and Jeff Meshey, president/CEO for Desert Financial, at the Desert Financial Foundation’s 23rd annual Charity Golf Tournament at Encanterra Country Club in SanTan Valley, Ariz., on March 8. The event raised $515,000 for CMN Hospitals/Phoenix Children’s Hospital’s 1 Darn Cool School (1DCS), bringing the $6.6 billion, Phoenix-based credit union’s lifetime giving to PCH from the golf tournament to $5.4 million. One-hundred eighty participants hit the links while following the tournament’s COVID-19 protocols, which included the cancellation of the traditional post-game gathering for prizes and camaraderie. The 1DCS program is a comprehensive K-12 education program staffed by nine certified, master’s level teachers who develop customized plans to help patients keep pace with academic, emotional and intellectual development while they heal.

Staff from the $574.4 million, Maple Grove, Minn.-based TopLine Federal Credit Union teach young adults financial basics during the first-ever, virtual Clubhouse-to-Career Pathways to Success “Planting Roots Teen Conference.” TopLine recently partnered with Keystone Community Services’ Best Buy Teen Tech Center to help young adults prepare for their futures through the Career Pathways Program, a youth job readiness program aimed to help young people in lower-income communities, especially from underrepresented groups, prepare for the world of work. The virtual conference, held for participants across the U.S. including Boston, San Antonio and St. Paul, consisted of four sessions presented by professionals from across country: Inclusion and Engagement; Arts, Activism and Self-Advocacy; Building Your Resume and Professional Network; and Financial Literacy. TopLine representatives facilitated the Financial Literacy session, which provided participants with the foundational knowledge they need to prepare for the financial challenges of adulthood.

Hillary Bobbitt (left) of the $3.3 billion, Warner Robins, Ga.-based Robins Financial Credit Union, presents a donation to Cheryl Glover of Houston County Habitat for Humanity in Warner Robins. Robins Financial recently made a corporate donation of $5,000 to the organization, whose staff believes that their neighbors deserve safe, decent and affordable housing. Houston County Habitat for Humanity will use this donation to continue to build homes for those in the community.

The $527.7 million, Baton Rouge, La.-based Pelican State Credit Union hosted a free virtual Financial Wellness Workshop on March 23, where attendees had their home buying questions answered live by a panel of experts. The workshop was hosted on both Zoom and Pelican’s Facebook page, and featured Pelican Nationally Certified Credit Counselor Nanette Diaz (top left), Mortgage Originator Chris Neal (bottom left) and Baton Rouge area Realtor Kristen Stanley (bottom right). Pelican Financial Outreach Supervisor Melanie Henderson (top right) moderated the workshop and helped field all questions from attendees. Attendees learned important information about the home buying process, such as tips for first-time home buyers who don’t have the best credit, what the home search process consists of after pre-approval and the various mortgage loan options that Pelican offers. A total of 139 people joined the workshop. Guests that missed the workshop can watch the full webinar recording on the credit union’s website.

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