Festive CUs Shower Their Communities With Toys, Gifts & Donations

Team members from Addition Financial Credit Union ($2.8 billion, Lake Mary, Fla.) delivered more than $7,500 worth of gifts to 50 local children this December in collaboration with the Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health Florida for the Holiday Cheer campaign. Addition Financial team members from 19 different departments and branches united in support, hosting an Angel Tree (pictured) to fulfill the top wishes of children served by Devereux. The gifts collected via their Holiday Cheer Campaign will be distributed to the children and families served through Devereux programs.

Pima Federal Credit Union ($1.1 billion, Tucson, Ariz.) has distributed $26,000 through donations and prizes this holiday season. Ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday, Pima Federal gifted 20 of its members with a $250 Fry’s Food gift card (top row, center). In early December, the credit union had a second random giveaway for its members, this time in the form of a $1,500 cash giveaway to five members, who each received a deposit into their account for the prize amount to help offset the holiday expenses (top row, left). Pima Federal also continued giving in December by supporting Ramon’s Miracle on 31st Street, which provides gifts to children and families in need within the Tucson community. Credit union volunteers shopped for items (top row, right) and delivered them to the organization in time for their holiday celebration on Dec. 17. Later in December, Pima Federal continued its tradition with the Pima Elves Gift Giving Program to spread cheer and give back to local nonprofits (bottom row, left and center). Each of Pima Federal’s 24 departments and branches chose an organization to donate $500 to. In addition, the credit union is participating in KVOA’s Season 4 Hope campaign (bottom row, right) to collect donations for The Community Food Bank, Toys for Tots and The Diaper Bank. Each Pima Federal location has had bins available to collect these donations through Dec. 20.

University Credit Union ($1.1 billion, Los Angeles) participated in the Annual Toy & Book Drive for the UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital. UCU, which has been partnering with the hospital for over a decade, raised over $18,000 in donations as well as collected books and toys this year. Toy, book and monetary donations were collected online and at select UCU Advisory Centers, and delivered directly to the UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital on Dec. 12. UCU’s sponsored book cart also delivered books and toys directly to patients and their families. Every member contribution was matched with an in-kind donation from UCU.

American Heritage Credit Union ($4.6 billion, Philadelphia) raised $22,800 throughout the year through 23 fundraising programs hosted by its Adopt-A-Family Program. These funds were used to purchase “wish list” gifts and essentials for over 150 individuals in need, in partnership with organizations including the Norristown Salvation Army, Northeast Family YMCA, CADCOM and the Jewish Community Center of Greater Philadelphia. Each family’s wish list included toys, books and necessities such as coats and footwear. American Heritage’s board of directors also donated 22 ShopRite gift cards worth $700 for each of those families to cover grocery costs this holiday season.

This year, American Heritage also adopted 26 residents from the nonprofit Ridge Crest Pediatric Services and supplied them with a variety of essentials needed this season. An additional 30 comforters were also donated to Ridge Crest residents through the program. Additionally, American Heritage’s business development team is partnering with Catholic Community Services to purchase gifts for 25 children who are a part of the agency’s child welfare services. In addition to the gifts, the Adopt-A-Family program donated $500 to purchase blankets and bedding essentials for these children.

Nusenda Credit Union ($4.3 billion, Albuquerque, N.M.) partnered with the UNM Children’s Hospital and Jardin de los Niños this holiday season. Nusenda members and employees across New Mexico participated in a two-week toy drive, donating over 1,500 toys as well as funds. The UNM Children’s Hospital is the only Children’s Miracle Network hospital in New Mexico. Jardin de los Niños is a nonprofit organization in Las Cruces, N.M., which is designated as a TraumaInformed Care Center and provides early childhood education, therapeutic intervention, and comprehensive services to homeless and near-homeless children from the ages of six weeks to 10 years, and their families.

Suffolk Credit Union ($1.7 billion, Medford, N.Y.) donated hundreds of toys to local children in partnership with Mondays at Racine Cancer Care, the New York Cancer Foundation and New York Cancer and Blood Specialists. The gifts were contributed by credit union members and employees during the Suffolk Smiles toy drive at its branches, which is an annual tradition. Many of the toys were distributed on Dec. 16 at Mondays at Racine in Sayville, N.Y. Mondays at Racine Cancer Care provides free mind-body health, beauty and wellness services to women, men and young adults undergoing cancer treatment. New York Cancer & Blood Specialists diagnose and treat every kind of cancer, offering patients state-of-the-art treatments, clinical trials and comprehensive support services. Pictured from left to right are Samantha Butindaro, executive assistant for Mondays at Racine; Alyssa Greiner, assistant executive director for Mondays at Racine; Susan Cavanaugh, patient advocate for Mondays at Racine; Laura Racioppi, assistant vice president, corporate and community partnerships for Suffolk CU; Karla Waldron, executive director for Mondays at Racine; and Catherine Rodgers business development coordinator for Suffolk CU.

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