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Fort Financial employees
step up and embrace their communities by sponsoring and
participating in several festivals, sponsorships, and
fundraisers throughout the year. Our staff goes
above and beyond to help our members and make a
difference in the communities we serve.
In 2009, several FFCU
employees volunteered their time and taught a semester of
healthy spending and the benefits of saving to elementary
and middle school students in the Fort Wayne area through
Junior Achievement. These hands-on, experiential
programs teach the key concepts of work readiness,
entrepreneurship and financial literacy to young people
all over the world.
In addition to educating youth, FFCU sponsors several
fun events too, such as parades, money fairs, golf outings
and local festivals. Along with fun events, each
branch donates time and money to charitable causes. FFCU Corporate employees volunteered
for the 2009 United Way Day of Caring, by cleaning and
painting the community room at the Fort Wayne Housing
Authority. Employees also helped bag groceries for
Cancer Days at Fort Wayne, IN Kroger food stores.
Fort Financial has also sponsored several picnics or
corporate events for participating SEGs. These events are always well attended and appreciated.
By far one of the most impressive events was when the
staff of the Gastonia branch, under the leadership of
manager Doug Kush, raised more than $1,775 to donate
to the Gaston County Heart Society at the 2009 Heart
Walk on May 5, 2009. FFCU was recognized as the
team that raised the most money. The Heart Walk
event raises money to support the programs of the
Heart Society of Gaston County. The proceeds are
used for medical assistance to Gaston County citizens
with heart disease and for programs that raise
awareness of cardiac risk factors, prevention and
cholesterol screenings.
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Above: FFCU Gastonia employees
present a check for the Gaston
County Heart Society's 2009
Heart Walk. |
Above: FFCU
Corporate employees painting at the FW Housing Authority for United Way Day of Caring
2009.
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We are very proud of
our staff and their dedicated time. Please look for
your local branch’s participation in an upcoming event
in
your area by visiting the Community Calendar page. |
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FFCU began its scholarship
program in 1997. Each year $5000 is divided up among those
the Scholarship Committee feels meets the criteria of
character, involvement in community and school, and
financial need. A small ceremony was held at the Corporate
branch which was attended by local recipients and
several members of the FFCU staff. Two other
scholarship awards were handed out at the South Beloit, IL
branch by Tracy Patrick, Branch Manager, and at the
Gastonia, NC branch by Heather Norman, Assistant Branch
Manager.
Ashley Saxton
South Beloit, IL – Achieved an Associate of Art Degree
at Rock Valley College in October of 2008 with a 3.2 GPA,
and transferred to Northern Illinois University in January
2009 to complete a Bachelor's Degree in Business
Management maintaining a 3.2 GPA, with interest in
possibly earning a Master's Degree.
Extra-Curricular & Activities: Psychology/Sociology
Research Club, Boys & Girls Club Indoor Soccer coach (2
yrs) and Sunday school teaching assistant (3 yrs). She
works part-time at Menards in plumbing sales and at Alongi
Santas Insurance Agency as an accounting assistant.
Awards/Honors: 2007 Stateline Boys & Girls Club member of
the month and nominee for member of the year.
Ashlee Williamson
Angola, IN – Will be attending University of Louisville
in Fall 2009 – Master’s Degree program in social work. She
has already achieved a Bachelor of Science degree with a
double major in criminal justice and psychology from
Tri-State (Trine) University in December, 2009 where she
graduated in the top 20% of her class with 3.19 GPA.
Extra-Curricular & Activities: For three years at
Tri-State, she’s been a member of the American Criminal
Justice Association, and Take Back the Night event, and
was also team captain for Relay for Life in 2009. Ashlee
is also an Angola Parks & Recreation volunteer since 2000,
and an American Red Cross blood donor of 2 gallons every
56 days since 2004. She has also worked for the Indiana
Trooper’s Association, Shelton Investigations, and a day
treatment program during her schooling.
Michael Haynes
Fort Wayne, IN – graduated from Northrop High School in
June of 2009 (ranked 24/485), he’ll attend Anderson
University in the Fall of 2009 in a general studies
program as a math major with additional interest in
journalism as a possible double major.
Extra-Curricular & Activities: School play (2 yrs), school
newspaper (2 yrs) as reporter, ad manager, cover editor
and editor-in-chief, and also a member of National Honor
Society. Volunteer at the Euell A. Wilson Center (4 years)
and at the Love Church (2 yrs), and is also a member of
the Love Church youth group (4 years). Michael works his
summers mowing lawns for two property owners.
Hailey Lechleidner
Auburn, IN – Graduated from l in June of
2009 (ranked 8/259) to attend Indiana University this fall
as a nursing major with a goal to complete a Master’s
Degree in becoming a Nurse Practitioner.
Extra-Curricular & Activities: Student Council treasurer
(4 yrs), National Honor Society member (2 yrs), and a
Baron Mentor (2 yrs). She also participated in SADD,
D.A.R.E, Rolemodels, Freshman basketball, Baron Buddies,
and Spanish Club; Outside of school she’s been a member of
the Leo Club since August 2005, a volunteer for the St.
Martin’s Clinic Tea Party annually since 2007, and
community service projects such as holiday walks at
Elkhart Park and the Lions Club Christmas Stroll. She’s
remained employed at the Italian Grille as a
hostess/waitress since June 2007, and has also provided
childcare for a family during the past two summers.
Awards/Honors: Haley was awarded a Student Council
Scholarship in 2009.
Brandon Davis
Fort Wayne, IN – has completed his first year at Indiana
Tech pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree as a Business
Administration major with concentration in sports
management, while also pursuing a minor in psychology
and Spanish. His 10-year career aspiration is to partner
with a friend in opening a soccer academy, a school
where kids will live on campus and play soccer full time
to pursue soccer at the college level and beyond.
Extra-Curricular & Activities: Soccer player at IN Tech,
and part-time assistant manager of Dairy Queen, he has
also lifeguarded and taught swim lessons at Wawasee
Middle School in past summers. His volunteerism includes
being an assistant coach at Wawasee High School for the
2007 season, coaching soccer for 10-yr-olds six hours
per week, and community events such as Fort for Fitness
and the New Haven Halloween Party.
Awards/Honors: Brandon placed 3rd in a photography
competition out of nearly 1,000 participants, and also
was able to land an audition with 20th Century Fox.
Brittany Goldsmith
Saint Joe, IN – graduated from East Side High School in
May of 2009 (ranked 9/92); she’ll attend IPFW this fall
as a Pre-Dental Hygiene major with plans to become a
dental hygienist.
Extra-Curricular & Activities: D.A.R.E. Role Model and
Campus Life (3 yrs), Student Council (2 yrs), Dekalb
County 4-H (3 yrs); She is a church and food bank
volunteer, and has worked as a church custodian and
waitress during her schooling.
Awards/Honors: 4-H showmanship champion in 2008, and
showmanship reserve champion in 2009.
Julie Hartman
Gastonia, NC – Earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in
Animal Science Cum Laude in May 2007 and will be attending
Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine in the fall
of 2009 to eventually become a veterinarian.
Extra-Curricular & Activities: NC State marching band (3
yrs), NC State Pep Band (2 yrs), historian and secretary
of Ceres Woman’s Agriculture Fraternity (4 yrs), and
currently a member of Animal Rehabors of the Carolinas;
She has worked at Lineberger Vertinary Hospital full-time
as a Vet Technician for the past 18 months, and prior at
Wilkinson Animal Hospital for three years.
Awards/Honors: NCSU Marching Band Friendliest
Superlative in 2006; Ceres Fraternity Best Attendance,
Silver Rose, and Outstanding Sister all in 2006.
If you are interested in applying for a scholarship ask your local branch about application procedures. Typically, students are required to fill out an application outlining their financial status and plans and aspirations for their future and schooling. For more information, call the credit union at 800.837.3262, click the link below to download and print the 2009 application or pick up an application at any FFCU branch office after April.
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