Credit unions share funds, time and love this past holiday season

America First CU

America First Credit Union ($ 16.3 billion, Riverdale, Utah) supported The Giving Machines at City Creek Center in Salt Lake City (pictured) during the 2021-2022 holiday season. Vending machines, sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, are vending machines that allow donors to swipe their credit cards to make an essential purchase for someone in need. Donations benefited four local charities: American Indian Services, Rise Up School of Dance, Rose Park Neighborhood Center and Utah Refugee Connection. America First donated $ 1 for every social media post to America First Selfie Station that contained the hashtags #AFCU and #CityCreekCenter up to $ 10,000, and provided early access to City Creek members Center for America First and a free Chick-Fil-A breakfast for the first 100 members on December 13.

American Eagle Financial Credit Union ($ 2.3 billion, East Hartford, Connecticut) donated holiday baskets of joy last month to families with loved ones who faced the challenges of the pandemic or illness last year in Hampden County, Massachusetts. Left to right, Nancy Rines and Kristy Parker, pediatric staff at Baystate Children’s Hospital, accept baskets from Lisa Rood and Tony Roda of AEFCU, as well as Becky Larsen and Jen Siewers of Springfield, Massachusetts. AEFCU representatives filled baskets of goodies, gifts and tickets for the Springfield Bright Nights at Forest Park event, which they also delivered to West Springfield High School and families staying at Ronald Mansion McDonald of Springfield. Additionally, Bright Nights tickets and gift cards were delivered by Springfield Radio Stations on behalf of the Credit Union to Shriners Children’s New England and the Boys & Girls Club of Springfield.

LAFCU ($ 930 million, Lansing, Michigan) projected artwork on the Lansing Convention Center during Silver Bells in the City, a holiday season kickoff event held in late November, to raise awareness of the importance of love and equality. The 10 works of art projected on the centre’s east-facing exterior wall were healing words represented by area residents for LAFCU’s Art for Love and Equality Initiative: Love, humanity, change, peace, kindness, empathy, unity, one, hope and healing. For the Empathy screening, Brian Whitfield of Lansing created each letter to reflect a story where empathy is desired. The art was also displayed statewide on LAFCU billboards and social media, and several organizations, including Lansing Lugnuts and The Eaton Theater, used their platforms to share the images.

Representatives of Federal Navy Credit Union ($ 151 billion, Vienna, Virginia) celebrate a record season of support for the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation on Tuesday, November 30. Navy Federal has supported the Foundation for 25 years, and in 2021, members and employees donated more than $ 20,000 and 20,000 toys. Navy Federal branches have served as drop-off points for toys, with more than 260 of its national branches participating in the Toys for Tots campaign last year – roughly 75% of the global credit union branch network. Members and employees also had the option to donate online. In addition to the annual Toys for Tots campaign, Navy Federal employees have given back by filling the wish lists of more than 200 local families through its employee-led Project Neighbors program. The families were identified in partnership with local school districts and nonprofit organizations near credit union operations in Vienna and Winchester, Virginia, and Pensacola, Florida.

Representatives of SEFCU ($ 5.4 billion, Albany, NY) and Federal credit union CAP COM ($ 2.7 billion, Albany, NY), which is in the process of merging, presents checks over $ 350,000 to nearly 50 pantries and rescue missions in the New York Capital area, as well as in the areas of Binghamton, Buffalo and Syracuse. SEFCU has been making these donations to pantries and shelters since 2010 as part of its year-round commitment to fight hunger through financial support to local nonprofits and fundraising solutions that provide better access to fresh, healthy food for those in need. CAP COM joined the effort for the first time last year.

The Federal Summit Credit Union ($ 1.1 billion, Rochester, NY) announced a three-year commitment of $ 30,000 to Big Brothers Big Sisters programs in Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse, NY. Big Sisters of Greater Rochester; Big Brothers Big Sisters of Erie, Niagara and the South; and Peace, Inc. Big Brothers Big Sisters of central New York City. Each organization will receive $ 4,000 in 2021, $ 3,000 in 2022 and $ 3,000 in 2023 to help support and create programs for disadvantaged youth. Pictured, left to right, Summit President / CEO Laurie Baker, Big Brother Basil Barrett, Little Brother Chanze Hardgers and Summit Vice President of Marketing and Community Engagement Twanda Christensen.

Please send your community news to Natasha Chilingerian at [email protected]