Wisconsin - Community First Credit Union�employees wearing Christmas sweaters of all types and sizes helped start conversations with members Dec. 19-20 and led to nearly $5,800 in donations to 17 different nonprofit causes.
Our second annual "Christmas Sweater Santa Cause" fundraiser an idea that originated in 2013 with our Manitowoc branch and quickly spread to all branches took place over 15 hours last Friday and Saturday.
"Each of our branches chose a nonprofit or a cause that carried special significance and then worked with our members who stopped by our branches to generate donations," said Kevin Hartz, senior vice president/branch operations. "To raise almost $5,800 in less than two days is a great example of how our staff and our members embrace our Community First and people-helping-people philosophy through local organizations."
"I felt silly in my ugly sweater, so I would bring it up to the members that I was wearing it for the cause," said Jolene Heuchert, assistant branch manager at Westowne in Oshkosh, which raised $385 for a local animal shelter.
Bellevue members ponied up nearly $194 for Golden House, where branch manager Nicole Allen has volunteered in the past. "Ive heard about and seen the amazing work they do for domestic abuse and sexual assault victims in our community," said Nicole, who urged Bellevue staff to mention the Santa Cause to every member that came in.
Darboy branch members raised almost $575 for the Cancer Care Support Fund of the Appleton Medical Center Foundation. It was suggested by Kara Wittlin, assistant head teller, in memory of her father who passed away last year, and embraced by Amy Ratliff, Darboy branch manager. "This strongly hit home personally since my husband passed away last December from cancer, and we spend many days and nights at AMC receiving treatments," Amy said. "The team really rallied around it and the members were extremely generous. The Cancer Care Support Fund provides assistance to patients receiving treatments who are struggling financially by giving them gas cards and phone cards.�There is enough stress when dealing with an illness, but to add financial stress on top of it is very unfortunate. It was really fun having the team rally around the idea and feels great to be able to help others," Amy said.
In Nichols, the branch raised $116 in support of Community 2000 Seymour, an outreach program for families in the Seymour, Black Creek, Nichols, and Shiocton area. "The organization helps many families with food, housing, rent, energy/heating assistance, gas cards to get to work and clothes for those making job changes," said volunteer Kim Krull, our Member Service Representative at Nichols. "I was astounded at all the work and time they put in to help so many people. Truly they have the kindest hearts and the warmest smiles."
Community First Credit Union is a member-owned financial cooperative serving over 115,000 member/owners in East Central and Northeastern Wisconsin. CFCU operates 21 full-service branches, eight non-traditional branches and has more than $2 billion in assets.
Wisconsin - Community First Credit Union�employees wearing Christmas sweaters of all types and sizes helped start conversations with members Dec. 19-20 and led to nearly $5,800 in donations to 17 different nonprofit causes.
Our second annual "Christmas Sweater Santa Cause" fundraiser an idea that originated in 2013 with our Manitowoc branch and quickly spread to all branches took place over 15 hours last Friday and Saturday.
"Each of our branches chose a nonprofit or a cause that carried special significance and then worked with our members who stopped by our branches to generate donations," said Kevin Hartz, senior vice president/branch operations. "To raise almost $5,800 in less than two days is a great example of how our staff and our members embrace our Community First and people-helping-people philosophy through local organizations."
"I felt silly in my ugly sweater, so I would bring it up to the members that I was wearing it for the cause," said Jolene Heuchert, assistant branch manager at Westowne in Oshkosh, which raised $385 for a local animal shelter.
Bellevue members ponied up nearly $194 for Golden House, where branch manager Nicole Allen has volunteered in the past. "Ive heard about and seen the amazing work they do for domestic abuse and sexual assault victims in our community," said Nicole, who urged Bellevue staff to mention the Santa Cause to every member that came in.
Darboy branch members raised almost $575 for the Cancer Care Support Fund of the Appleton Medical Center Foundation. It was suggested by Kara Wittlin, assistant head teller, in memory of her father who passed away last year, and embraced by Amy Ratliff, Darboy branch manager. "This strongly hit home personally since my husband passed away last December from cancer, and we spend many days and nights at AMC receiving treatments," Amy said. "The team really rallied around it and the members were extremely generous. The Cancer Care Support Fund provides assistance to patients receiving treatments who are struggling financially by giving them gas cards and phone cards.�There is enough stress when dealing with an illness, but to add financial stress on top of it is very unfortunate. It was really fun having the team rally around the idea and feels great to be able to help others," Amy said.
In Nichols, the branch raised $116 in support of Community 2000 Seymour, an outreach program for families in the Seymour, Black Creek, Nichols, and Shiocton area. "The organization helps many families with food, housing, rent, energy/heating assistance, gas cards to get to work and clothes for those making job changes," said volunteer Kim Krull, our Member Service Representative at Nichols. "I was astounded at all the work and time they put in to help so many people. Truly they have the kindest hearts and the warmest smiles."
Community First Credit Union is a member-owned financial cooperative serving over 115,000 member/owners in East Central and Northeastern Wisconsin. CFCU operates 21 full-service branches, eight non-traditional branches and has more than $2 billion in assets.