Tools 4 Schools was a HUGE Success!

Thanks to the support of our members and business partners Tools 4 Schools raised $1,572.52! School supplies were provided for Martin Elementary and Nicolet Elementary Schools in Green Bay to give kids the tools they need to succeed. People helping people, that’s what it’s all about!

Since we blew away our goal of raising $750, HCCU’s President, Pat Josephson let all the employees douse him with green jello, and everyone was more than happy to comply!

HCCU President Pat getting SLIMED by staff.

Post by: Cari J.

Join us in the March for Babies!

What it is: The March of Dimes March for Babies is a three-mile fundraising walk.  You can walk individually, or join a team (like our Horizon CCU team!).  The event raises money and awareness for premature birth and birth defects.  The Green Bay walk takes place April 25 at 9:00 am at Ashwaubomay Park.

What it does: The March of Dimes was originally started by President FDR to combat polio.  With that original mission accomplished, they turned their attention to another issue that affects the lives of millions – premature birth and birth defects.  Now, the mission of the March of Dimes is to make sure that every baby is born healthy and full-term.  Funds raised by the March of Dimes are put to work on research and education for vaccines, diseases, medications, genetics and screening procedures that will help accomplish their new mission.  Aside from the March for Babies walk, the March of Dimes also funds its work through grant money.  In 2003 they started a campaign to end premature births.  Using this grant money, they have implemented programs including group prenatal care and risk reduction services that complement a woman’s overall care during pregnancy, such as smoking cessation services, substance abuse counseling, management of diabetes and hypertension, and case management services.
  
Why it is important: About 1 in 9 babies is born too soon – amounting to 450,000 premature births in the US, and 15 million premature births worldwide, each year.  Babies born just a few weeks early are at risk of severe health problems and lifelong disabilities. Premature birth is the number 1 killer of newborns.  Overall, the US is given a grade of “C” for this statistic.  Our premature birth rates are worse than many other developed nations.  In an effort to improve that grade, the March of Dimes also advocates for the passing state and federal laws which help to improve health screenings and education for expectant mothers and their unborn babies.

What you can do: Join the walk!  Start a team of your own, or join up with ours!  Ask family and friends to pledge donations for your walk.  Even if you’re not able to make it to the actual event, you can still make a donation yourself, or raise money on behalf of a team.  This year, all donations that Team Horizon CCU raises will be matched, up to $1000.  So donations automatically get doubled!  We hope to see you there!

NEW Community Shelter

In 1994 The NEW Community Shelter opened it’s doors  in Green Bay, WI.  Since then they have had 2 successful capital campaigns that enabled them to move to their present location at 301 Mather St in Green Bay and then doubled the size of their kitchen/serving area!  They provide emergency shelter for adult men and women and a wide variety of programs to help them get back on their feet.  They have programs for everything from job hunting to clothing and haircuts to addiction counseling.  They are the only emergency shelter program in this area open year round.

The shelter also provides meals to any child or adult in need.  This service is available to anyone  – not just their residents.  They only ask for peaceful behavior and sobriety.  I’ve helped serve meals at the shelter and it is an amazing experience!  You meet not only residents of the shelter but also
families who just need a hot meal to stretch their budget.  They serve dinner everyday from 5 pm to 6pm, and they also serve lunches from 11:30am to 12:30pm on weekends and every holiday.  On average their evening meal serves over 200 people!

They are always looking for donations of money or ‘ things’, visit their website at www.newcommunityshelter.org or contact Mercedes at 437-3766 ext 111 for further information and their current wish list.

The NEW Community Shelter is a caring, supportive environment for those in need.

Post by: Mary D

Gividends - giving has never been so easy!

Sometimes donating to a charity of choice can be a long and stressful process. First you have to pick a charity you wish to contribute to, then you have to decide how much and how often you would like to donate, and finally you have to hold yourself accountable for those funds and keeping track!

Well enough of all that work, HCCU is coming to the rescue! Beginning January of 2015, we are rolling out a GREAT new program that makes donating simple! Each month all depository accounts, such as a savings, club or money market, receive dividends. This new program is designed to automatically withdraw these dividends for you after they are posted, and donate them to a charity of your choice! We have a list of 10 great local & national charities to pick from, including Bay Area Humane Society, House of Hope, Beacon House, and Paul’s Pantry.  Every little bit helps, and if we all pool our dividends, just think of the difference we can make in our community!

I know setting this up may seem like a lot of effort as well, but really it’s simple! Stop in to either of the HCCU branches and speak with an MSR!  It’s as easy as filling out a quick enrollment form that tells us which charity you would like to donate to, what percentage of your dividends, and from which account.  From there, we take care of everything!  And when it comes to tax time, you can see the dividends you earned as well as your donations on your monthly statements, so keeping track is super easy!

Let’s kick off 2015 the right way, and start donating to our local community!

Post by: Emily P

Stock the Shelves - There's still time to donate today!

How many of us have ever really gone hungry for any length of time? Yet it is one of the biggest challenges a lot of families have: how to pay for quality, nutritious food. It’s sad, and the worst part is that most of those affected are children.  Sometimes the only real meal they get is at school. When school is not in session many don’t even get that. 

So many people are turning to food pantries to help fill their kid’s needs, the demand is huge.  We at Horizon Community Credit Union have joined many others in the Stock the Shelves Campaign. Please join us in helping those in need, especially during this holiday season, and give the gift of a full belly.

You can stop in at either one of our branches, located on Eastman Ave. or at the Voyager Branch and drop off your non-perishable donations.  Or you may choose to donate a monetary gift which will be given to the Stock the Shelves campaign. Donations must be received by the end of the day today for this year's campaign.  We thank you ahead of time for any and all donations, you don’t have to be a member to drop off donations, so stop by and help us fill our shopping carts.

Post by: Lori S.

There are so many ways to make a difference!

It seems like more often than not there is always an organization or charity collecting money for fundraisers. It seems almost impossible to go through the line at the grocery store without being asked if you would like to donate. If you are like me you try to give every single time that you are asked because you want to help make a difference. Did you know that there are ways you can help that are as simple as doing your grocery shopping?

Box Tops for Education:  You can find box tops on hundreds of different items. I started paying attention to the items that I was purchasing and it’s amazing how many different items will have those special tops on them. I even saw them on binders that we purchased for our CU branches. All you have to do is clip the box tops from packages, send the box tops to your child’s school and the school will receive 10 cents per box top! That can definitely add up. Don’t have any children in school? That’s ok because someone you know probably does and would be happy to take them off your hands. Some businesses even have Box Top collection receptacles and will donate to local schools throughout the year. Visit http://www.boxtopsforeducation.info/ for more information and a list of participating products.

Labels for Education: Look for the labels for education on participating Product UPC and beverage/Sauce caps. Clip the labels from the item and donate to participating schools so that they can earn FREE education merchandise. Again, you will be amazed at the number of items that have these labels on them! There are even labels on BIC pens! Something that you probably use on a daily basis! Visit http://www.labelsforeducation.com/ for a list of participating products and more information.

Pop Tab Collection for Ronald McDonald House: Whether you are popping open an ice cold beer, a refreshing can of soda or opening a can of soup those little tabs can make a difference.  Look for special Ronald McDonald pop tab collection containers in the shape of a house at schools, community organizations and businesses in your area. You can also contact a Ronald McDonald house near you to ask about getting your own house for collection. Those tabs are recycled and turned into cash this helps the Ronald McDonald house pay the bills and gives families a place to stay while their children are in the hospital. It’s something so small that makes such a big difference. Visit http://www.rmhc.org/other-ways-to-help to find out how you can help this organization.

So the next time you are at the grocery store make sure to buy those items with the Box Top for Education and the Labels for Education. Think twice about recycling that can with the tab still on it. Something so simple can make a difference for some great organizations. 

Post by: Katie B 

My CU Staff Wears Jeans to Work!

If you stop in either of our branches today, you will see members of the HCCU staff wearing jeans.  It might seem strange to see everyone dressed so casually, but we promise there's a good reason for it!  So why the jeans?

Today is Miracle Jeans Day - a fundraising day for Children's Miracle Network!  Each employee who wears jeans makes a $5 donation to Children's Miracle Network.  These donations are sent to Children's Hospital of Wisconsin to help children and families in our area who are facing life-threatening illnesses!  By wearing jeans today, we are helping to continue the tradition of excellent care that our local Children's Hospital provides.  Did you know that in the US News and World Report's 2014-2015 ranking of best hospitals, Children's Hospital of Wisconsin was recognized in all 10 pediatric specialty areas?  That means that some of the best care in the country is right in our backyard, and at HCCU we are proud to support the fabulous work they do.  That's why, a few days a year, Horizon Community Credit Union goes casual for kids!