Carolina Postal Credit Union Ends Another Successful Operation CU Troop (12/24/2008)

Carolina Postal Credit Union along with the help of their members and local high School Phillip O Berry’s Jr ROTC Cadets has wrapped up another successful Operation CU Troop campaign.

From September 11, 2008 through November 11, 2008, Carolina Postal Credit Union collected individual sized toiletry items and food donations for the troops serving overseas. Several other Credit Unions through-out the state of North Carolina also contributed to Operation CU Troop including Premier Federal Credit Union in Greensboro, Carolina Federal Credit Union in Cherryville, and Arcade Credit Union in Asheville.

At the end of the collection period, over 3 truckloads of items went to local High School, Phillip O Berry, a technology magnet. There, the Jr ROTC cadets, under the supervision of Army Major Beasley, coordinated, separated and packaged the donated items into over 1,000 quart-sized "goody" bags for the USO in Charlotte to distribute. Every single "goody" bag had a decorated, personalized Holiday "Rose of Thanks for our Troops" Card – designed by creator Matthew Hunt and underwritten by a grant from Carolina Postal Credit Union.

Between December 15 up until Christmas Eve, the USO office, located at the Charlotte Regional International Airport, handed out the bags to USA soldiers deploying overseas.

"Each year Operation CU Troop grows bigger," stated Carolina Postal Credit Union CEO Joy Watts, "this is just a small way we can give back to our men and women serving overseas. We are so pleased that the larger credit union community in NC, and the young men & women at Phillip O Berry High School, are assisting us for the 2nd year."

Lithium Federal Credit Union Helps 53 Children and 19 Families Through Angel Tree Project (12/23/2008)

Lithium Federal CU in Bessemer City, NC held their annual ANGEL TREE project for area children. This has been an ongoing project of the Credit Union for over 22 years. This year, 53 children had their Christmas wishes filled and the 19 families involved were furnished a Christmas dinner. The members pulled their angel from the tree, filled the wishes and returned the gifts to the Credit Union to be distributed. "We might be a small credit union but our members have big hearts," exclaimed Lithium Manager Sharon Smith.

The Credit Union also contributed to the Hurricane Ike Disaster Fund. This fund assisted the credit union employees affected by the hurricane.

Carolina Postal Credit Union Collects Coats for North Dakota Native American Reservation (12/23/2008)

Carolina Postal Credit Union collected over 50 slightly used coats, jackets, hats and gloves for Native American children who live in poverty on a reservation in North Dakota.

"One of our members, and biggest supporters, inactive Marine Jerry Smitherman told us about the Native American children’s struggle with getting basic needs met," stated Deb McLean Marketing VP of CPCU

"We simply put out a box in our lobby with a sign and within one week’s time collected over 50 coats from our generous members!"

Local Native-American non-profit organization, Hearts Bridge, gathered the coats from Carolina Postal Credit Union and shipped them up to North Dakota.

Allegacy Federal Credit Union Donates $69,000 to Support Local Breast and Ovarian Cancer Survivors (11/8/2007)

Allegacy hosted its 9th Annual "Don’t Wait" Benefit Golf Tournament on October 4, 2007 at Bermuda Run Country Club, Bermuda Run, NC. Net proceeds from the tournament resulted in the credit union’s 2007 donation of $69,000 to Cancer Services, Inc., a local organization that supports breast and ovarian cancer awareness.

Over the past nine years, Allegacy has donated more than $389,000 from the "Don’t Wait" Benefit Golf Tournament to support this cause. The tournament is planned, coordinated, and hosted by volunteers and Allegacy staff.

More than 108 golfers participated in this year’s tournament.

Allegacy sincerely appreciates the dedication of its many sponsors and participants and thanks them for their continuing support.

Cancer Services, Inc. is a United Way partner agency established "to enhance the quality of life for those living with cancer, and to provide the gift of life through education." The agency serves all cancer survivors in Forsyth, Davie, Stokes and Yadkin Counties and offers the following free services: medication assistance, home health supplies, support groups, Pink Broomstick®, educational programs, information and referral, patient advocacy, peer support and transportation assistance. It is the only service agency in the Piedmont Triad that addresses these needs for all types of cancer patients. Visit Cancer Services, Inc.’s website at www.cancer-services.com

Learn more about Allegacy’s commitment to breast and ovarian cancer survivors at www.thepark.ws.

Members Credit Union Raises $9,202 for Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (11/5/2007)

Members Credit Union (MCU) raised $9,202 for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation’s (JDRF) Walk to Cure Diabetes. This was the first year MCU participated in this event, raising an astounding $6,866 through paper shoe sales alone.

"In the seven years that I have worked for JDRF, no one has raised as much money selling paper shoes in a single year as MCU," explained Maggie Henning of JDRF Piedmont Triad chapter.

JDRF, which supports type one diabetes research, holds over 200 walk events nationally each year. The Foundation’s Piedmont Triad Chapter has held fundraising walks since 1995. MCU’s relationship with another local credit union prompted their involvement.

"When Ike [Allegacy Federal Credit Union President/CEO W.K. Keener, Jr.] asked MCU to get involved in this noble cause, I knew we could contribute," comments MCU President/CEO Jack V. Braswell, Jr. "As we learned more about the disease, and heard stories of associated personal connections, our staff and membership became more determined to raise a ton of money."

Community involvement is not a new concept at MCU. As the recipient of the prestigious NC Credit Union League’s Dora Maxwell Social Responsibility Award for the last three consecutive years, MCU has made quite a name for themselves as outstanding corporate citizens.

"Community involvement is a way of life here at MCU," Braswell continues. "We like to live by the motto ‘if we can help, then why not help?’"

MCU looks forward to being a part of future JDRF events.

Truliant Federal Credit Union One of 14 Recipients of Innovation Grants from the National CU Foundation (10/10/2007)

(Note: the following information is provided courtesy of the National Credit Union Foundation.)

This summer the National Credit Union Foundation received 37 Innovation Grant applications from 19 states. Each application was thoroughly evaluated -- first by volunteer panelists including leagues and credit unions, then by NCUF senior staff, and finally by the NCUF Grants Committee, which is a subset of the NCUF Board. There were so many innovative proposals, the Grants Committee had to make some difficult choices as they reviewed and discussed the applications.

Ultimately the Grants Committee voted to fund 14 grants in 9 states. Truliant FCU, one of the grant recipients, was awarded $14,600 for their new Financial Opportunity Building Initiative from the National Credit Union Foundation (NCUF). The goal is to move members from financial education classes into CU products created for low-wealth members. The grant partially covers PR expenses, supplies for classes, and Spanish translations. 

Funding will be used to support Truliant’s two-part Financial Opportunity Building initiative, which includes an innovative, new product bundle and financial literacy classes. According to Marjorie Rorie, Director of Community Services, "this product bundle, coupled with financial literacy will help build financial strength for members in low-wealth markets and increase their chances of qualifying for more products and services."

In awarding the grant to Truliant, the NCUF noted that the credit union is meeting success measures on a current grant of $22,200.