Ascend FCU Donates $10,000 to Partners for Healing

TULLAHOMA, TN (November 3, 2020) — Ascend Federal Credit Union announced today that it has donated $10,000 to Partners for Healing, a leading non-profit organization headquartered in Tullahoma that provides free primary health care services to the working uninsured. The donation will help the organization fulfill its mission of serving the health care needs of individuals in Coffee, Franklin and Moore counties, where patient visits have increased 23% this year due to the financial pressures of the COVID-19 public health crisis.

“We are honored to support Partners for Healing, an organization that is making a difference in our community,” said Caren Gabriel, CEO of Ascend. “Many individuals and families in Middle Tennessee are now facing tremendous financial challenges as a result of being furloughed, laid off or having their working hours dramatically reduced because of the pandemic. This contribution will help the caregivers at Partners for Healing continue to provide crucial services to patients who may otherwise have had to forgo treatment because they could not afford it.”

“COVID has changed many things this year, but the ongoing needs of our patients have not changed,” said Lynn Brumfield, executive director of Partners for Healing. “They still have high blood pressure and need daily medicine. They still have diabetes and need insulin. They still have transportation issues and financial challenges that make their lives complicated. Ascend’s generous donation has helped to fill a funding void that will allow us to continue to serve our patients in these challenging times.”

Ascend has supported Partners for Healing since 2013. The donation comes from Ascend’s Charitable Donation Account (CDA), which was established in November 2017 by its Board of Directors. The CDA allows Ascend to generate revenue from investments to support various charitable endeavors.

Partners for Healing was organized in November 2001 to provide free primary health care services to uninsured individuals who are working, disabled or transitioning into work in Coffee, Franklin and Moore counties. Started by area community leaders, the organization operates a clinic that provides health care services such as annual physical exams and check-ups, diagnostic testing (mammograms and ultrasounds, for example), chronic disease management (for diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia) and mental health counseling.

Ascend Federal Credit Union’s $10,000 donation to Partners for Healing will help uninsured patients in southern Middle Tennessee. From left are Partners for Healing board member Jaine Colley; nurse practitioner Faith LeGrone; Ascend President and CEO Caren Gabriel; and Partners for Healing Executive Director Lynn Brumfield.

About Ascend Federal Credit Union

With more than 220,800 members and more than $3 billion in assets, Ascend Federal Credit Union is the largest credit union in Middle Tennessee and one of the largest federally chartered credit unions in the United States. Based in Tullahoma, Tenn., the member-owned financial institution offers banking, loan, retirement and investment services from its 28 branches, more than 55,000 free ATMs worldwide, online banking portal and mobile app. The credit union’s mission is to serve by offering financial literacy education and giving back to its community in a variety of ways. Ascend is federally insured by the National Credit Union Administration. For more information, visit ascend.org.

About Partners for Healing

Partners for Healing is a 501(c)3 free primary medical clinic that was established in 2001 in Tullahoma. The organization provides care for those who live or work in Franklin, Coffee and Moore counties. To qualify for services, applicants must have a total household income of less than 250% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines and at least one member of the household must work a minimum of 20 hours each week. Partners for Healing services include on-site lab, free 30-day prescriptions for many drugs, ultrasounds, prescription assistance for medications, mental health counseling, quarterly mammogram screenings and a referral system to specialists, and physicians and hospitals who provide care to its patients at a discounted rate. For more information, visit partnersforhealing.org.