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Press Release(s)
November 2006: Desert Energy Credit Union Wins the Dora Maxwell Social Responsibility Award for 2005
Desert Energy Credit Union is the proud recipient of First Place for the Dora Maxwell Award in Recognition of Outstanding Achievement in a Social Responsibility program. Desert Energy Credit Union will advance to the national level and compete with credit unions of similar size across the country.
The Dora Maxwell Social Responsibility Award program honors credit unions for their charitable work in the communities they serve. The award was named after Dora Maxwell, an early credit union pioneer. Maxwell helped organize hundreds of credit unions, organize volunteer clubs, and worked with organizations on behalf of the poor.
The Dora Maxwell competition has six asset categories, and a separate category for individual credit union chapters. Desert Energy Credit Union won First Place for the Award in the category asset size for $50 – 100 million.
A few of the community activities that Desert Energy Credit Union has been involved in include: fundraising for charities like the Children’s Miracle Network (Credit Unions for Kids), sponsoring community activities, Hurricane Katrina relief efforts, youth education in the public schools and much more.
Desert Energy Credit Union has three offices in Tucson and one office in Springerville, Arizona.
May 2006: Desert Energy Credit Union Stresses Youth Savings
Tucson, AZ – From April 23 – May 31, 2006 Desert Energy Credit Union has used this year’s credit union youth theme - "My Money, My Credit Union – Where I Belong" - to help children understand that as members of a credit union, which is a not-for-profit cooperative; they earn better rates on saving and loan products, pay lower fees, and receive personalized service.
According to a recent survey (provided by CUNA, Credit Union National Association), 34 percent of high school seniors said they were "not sure at all" or "not too sure" about their ability to manage their own finances. Sixty-six percent said they were "somewhat sure" or "very sure." All groups failed a test of financial literacy.
The same survey found that the students learned most about managing their money from family at home (58%), personal experience (18%), class at school (20%), friends (2%), and media (2%). Again, all groups failed the financial literacy test.
Now more than ever, it is vital to teach young people the importance of saving and financial planning.
Desert Energy Credit Union is encouraging our members to bring their children or youth family members into any of our three branches in Tucson, AZ or our branch in Springerville, AZ (ages 17 and younger) to make deposits into their accounts (or to open new accounts). If they make a minimum deposit of $10 into their youth account between April 23 – May 31, 2006, they will be automatically entered into a drawing for three cash prizes of $100, $50, or $25.
For more information about joining Desert Energy Credit Union or for questions regarding our current youth promotion, please contact us at 520-745-6488 and visit our website at www.desertenergycu.org.
November 2005: Letters for the Troops
Desert Energy Credit Union’s involvement in the community extends beyond fundraising. Desert Energy Credit Union’s support and volunteer efforts reach out to children in our local, public schools and to our troops overseas.
During the month of October and November 2005, Desert Energy Credit Union employees were allowed to take time off from their normal work schedules to visit different classrooms in two of our local schools. Desert Energy Credit Union employees worked with teachers to organize writing assignments and art projects that would contribute in supporting our troop’s morale.
Desert Energy Credit Union’s employees, two Marines and one Navy Seaman visited seven different classrooms to talk to students about the military, the war overseas and answered students questions.
Desert Energy Credit Union spent approximately 8 hours planning, making posters, gathering items that were requested by troops, visiting teachers and students, providing the classrooms with writing materials and stuffing envelopes to send the student’s letters to the troops.
Students wrote letters and drew pictures to the troops, aiming to boost morale and communicate with those in the military. Some students also created Christmas ornaments for the troops to hang up in their lockers.
Desert Energy Credit Union was able to collect 130 letters to the troops from the seven classrooms, ranging from 1st – 5th grades. The project was quite successful and Desert Energy Credit Union hopes to continue participating in similar events far into the future.
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