‘Tis the Season of Community Giving

Cornerstone League recognizes member credit unions for their growth and community endeavors to exemplify the “people helping people” philosophy.

Baptist Health FCU Turns Grinch Visits into Big-Hearted Giving

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Baptist Health Federal Credit Union made its annual round-robin tour of local hospitals with its branches. Leading the festivities is a decked-out, green-faced Grinch Santa.

On the credit union’s Facebook page, the quote from “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” is apropos: “Maybe Christmas, he thought ... doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas, perhaps ... means a little bit more!”

“We started our Grinch visits three years ago, and the campaign has grown every year,” said BHFCU President/CEO Mike Gorman. “We visit Baptist Hospitals to allow the staff and even patients and complete strangers to take pictures and register for drawings. We’re not trying to sell anything; we just want the hospital staff to have a little time at lunch or whatever to come by and take a break, catch their breath, smile, and have fun, even if it’s just 5 or 10 minutes.”

During its Grinch visit to the credit union’s newest in-hospital branch at Baptist Health Fort Smith, BHFCU added a $1,000 donation to the Baptist Health Volunteer Services’ angel tree. The service provides food, clothing, and assistance with Christmas for Baptist Health employees in need. This is the second year for BHFCU’s donation.

Check out the BHFCU photo album.

Health Care Family Credit Union Raises $1,500 for Weekend on Wheels

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Throughout October, Health Care Family Credit Union collected cash donations and food items for Weekend on Wheels, the Maplewood Richmond Heights School District’s donation-based program to feed students over weekends during the school year.

HCFCU, a credit union with $74.8 million in assets and serving 5,300 members, held collection drives at its Richmond Heights and St. Peters locations. Donations came from staff and credit union members, and the total, between purchases and food donations, was $1,508.

“Health Care Family Credit Union is proud to support the Maplewood Richmond Heights School District, and donate to such a great cause,” says Terry Summers, President/CEO of Health Care Family Credit Union. “No child should have to wait for the school week to begin to get a meal.”

Weekend on Wheels feeds around 1,450 children each school year throughout the school district. Every weekend, students take home food packages containing nonperishable meals that can be easily prepared and last until the child returns to school the next week. Students, staff, and volunteers run the program.

“We are grateful to Health Care Family Credit Union for their donations and their annual support of the Weekend on Wheels program,” says Nicole Vinson, Weekend on Wheels program coordinator.

Texas Trust Gives Foundation Donates $7,500 to Toys for Tots Campaigns

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In celebrating its 13th year supporting Toys for Tots, the Texas Trust Gives Foundation,  the charitable arm of Texas Trust Credit Union, donated $7,500 to the annual toy drive hosted by Mansfield ISD. The credit union also donated $4,000 worth of toys for drives in Athens and San Angelo.

As part of the drive, the foundation participated in a local shopping challenge. Credit union employees, along with Dr. Michael Evans, the mayor of the City of Mansfield, Dr. Kimberly Cantu, superintendent of Mansfield ISD, and Keziah Farrar, president of the Mansfield ISD School Board of Trustees, competed against employees from Texas Health Mansfield to see which team could find the toys on their list and race back to the register first. The shopping competition took place at Academy Sports & Outdoors in Mansfield. The teams collected more than 100 toys in less than 5 minutes. Toys for Tots was the actual winner, receiving all the toys collected.

The foundation presented a check for $7,500 live on air during the Good Day program on KDFW, in the Dallas-Fort Worth market. The credit union also delivered over 300 new toys collected throughout its branches, donated by members and employees, to Mansfield ISD for its community collection event at the school’s performing arts center.

“The Toys for Tots campaign makes sure all children in our local communities have a joyful Christmas,” said Washima Huq, executive director of the Texas Trust Gives Foundation. “Our employees and members enjoy being able to make a difference in the community by making Christmas Day special.”

• Video from the Texas Trust shopping challenge can be viewed here.          

• Video of the Texas Trust check presentation can be viewed here.