(May 27, 2014) -- America First Credit Union participated in the seventh annual West Haven Elementary Hawk Walk on Friday, May 16, contributing $2,500 to the total of $6,637.05 collected by the students. A last minute donation of $79.07 was made to match last year’s total monies raised. Since its inception in 2007, the Hawk Walk has raised more than $41,058.05 for the American Cancer Society.
The event was designed to encourage students and individuals to learn the principle of generosity. Hosted by West Haven students, the mini Relay-for-Life raises funds for the American Cancer Society. The financial institution donated cookies, bottled water, a live DJ and $5 for every student who walked from 7 to 8 a.m.
The Hawk Walk began in 2007 when then West Haven sixth grader, Garrett Gallegos, and his mother, Tammy, who is a Vice President at America First, walked together in a Relay-for-Life. Gallegos asked if they could start a similar effort at his school to help his teacher who had two sons diagnosed with cancer. Things snowballed from there as other students wanted to lend support and raise funds for the cancer society. That first year, West Haven fifth and sixth graders held their first mini Relay-For-Life Hawk Walk.
Celebrating 75 years, America First has become one of the largest, most stable and most progressive credit unions in the country, and has remained a member-owned, not-for-profit cooperative financial institution. Today, America First has 107 branches, and is the eleventh largest credit union in assets in the United States with over $6 billion, and the seventh largest credit union in membership in America with more than 647,000 members.
For more information, visit www.americafirst.com, America First Credit Union on Facebook, Twitter, @AmericaFirst on Instagram and Pinterest.
Photos attached:
Image One: Nicole Cypers and Keicha Christiansen, both of America First Credit Union, present a check to the American Cancer Society during the final assembly of the year at West Haven Elementary on Friday, May 23.
Image Two: Keicha Christiansen of America First Credit Union holds the oversized check presented to the America Cancer Society with monies raised during the seventh annual West Haven Elementary Hawk Walk.