Credit Union Employees Raise Over $1,000 for Autism Awareness

Collinsville, Illinois Employees of Scott Credit Union recently raised just over $1,000 during a fund-drive to support the Illinois Center for Autism during Autism Awareness Month. During the fund drive, Scott Credit Union employees made a donation in order to dress down during a day at the credit union. The credit union also accepted donations from its members over a month-long effort. The Illinois Center for Autism (ICA) is a not-for-profit, community-based, mental health treatment, and educational agency dedicated to serving people with autism. Referrals are made through local school districts, hospitals, the Department of Human Services, and doctors. The Illinois Center for Autisms primary goal is to prevent the unnecessary institutionalization of people with autism and to help people with autism achieve their highest level of independence within their home, school and community. Locally, Scott Credit Union Community Relations Representative Jennifer Riebold donated the $1,007 to Rachel Newsome, Director of Communications/Development at Illinois Center for Autism. "We were excited about the opportunity to help the Illinois Center for Autism in their efforts to increase awareness," said Riebold. "Our staff and our members were eager to be involved by donating money to the fund raiser for the dress down day. It is our way of showing our support of the work the Illinois Center for Autism does to help people reach the highest level of independence they can." "Credit unions are really about helping people and this is a perfect way for us to take that even a step further," she added. Scott Credit Union has made giving back to its communities a major priority. The local credit union contributed about $275,000 and its employees volunteered over 2,300 hours to a variety of local civic efforts throughout the region in 2012. "We realize that without our members and the communities in which we serve, we would not exist as a financial alternative," Riebold noted. "Supporting our communities is very important to us." The credit union has increased its community involvement in the past few years while also increasing its efforts to educate consumers of the value of doing their financial business with a not-for-profit credit union. "We want people in the area to know more about the value of doing business with a credit union," she added. "That is why we have focused our time on educating area residents about Scott Credit Union. One of the big ways weve done that is through our community involvement." Scott Credit Union is open to anyone who lives or works in a 17 county area, including Madison, St. Clair, Monroe, Randolph, Perry, Franklin, Jefferson, Washington, Clinton, Marion, Bond, Macoupin, Montgomery, Fayette, Effingham, Williamson, and Jackson counties. Anyone who lives or works in St. Louis County, Missouri also can open accounts at SCU. Additionally, anyone active or retired military also can have accounts with Scott Credit Union. Scott Credit Union currently has 15 area locations: Scott Air Force Base, East Belleville, Fairview Heights, Collinsville, OFallon, Edwardsville, Waterloo, Highland, Caseyville, West Belleville, Millstadt, Mascoutah, Troy, Wood River and its Home Office in Edwardsville. For details on opening accounts at Scott Credit Union, visit www.scu.org. PHOTO Scott Credit Union recently presented a $1,007 check to the Illinois Center for Autism. Pictured are, from right, Scott Credit Union Community Relations Representative Jennifer Riebold and Director of Communications/Development at Illinois Center for Autism Rachel Newsome.