Press
The Meriwest Holiday Season
Supporting Members, Employees, and the Community
SAN JOSE, CA – December 21, 2012– Meriwest Credit Union is staying busy over the holidays. The management team has found ways to bring some holiday cheer to their employees, their members, and the Silicon Valley Community.
From the middle of November through the 11th of December, Meriwest Credit Union locations were drop off points for Family Giving Tree. Family Giving Tree provides gifts for needy children throughout the Silicon Valley area. CU members were encouraged to pick up a tag off the Christmas trees at Meriwest Credit Union Financial Centers. The tags are wish lists from underprivileged children with their first name, their age, and what they want from their Secret Santa. Members purchase the gifts and drop them at one of the participating Financial Centers. On December 12th, employees gather up all the donated gifts and drop them at Family Giving Tree’s Warehouse. This year, Meriwest Credit Union members and employees donated over 500 lbs of toys, clothes, and games. Members also donated checks to the organization and gift cards for teenagers in the program.
For their members, Meriwest Credit Union invited Santa Claus to visit their Main Office and take professional photos with our members and their children. On Dec. 15th, Santa spent all morning in our main office listening to the kiddies’ Christmas wishes and having his photograph taken with the visiting families. Participating members are treated to a free copy of their photograph in a frame and a copy of the high resolution digital image to share with friends and family online. Professional photographer, John Sanchez, donated his time and talent.
Meriwest continued its tradition of a Holiday Breakfast for its employees. Staff members watched a playful rendition of “The Night before Christmas” presented by a cross functional team of employees from several departments. They also sang some Carols and had fun with their annual “Ugly Holiday Sweater” contest.
To cap off the holidays, Meriwest Credit Union has also opened its branches to the Second Harvest Foodbank as a location for families and employees to drop off canned and packaged foods for the holidays to be distributed to needy families all over our region. Not only will Meriwest employees collect the food, 37 employees have volunteered to sort the food on January 9th when it is picked up by the Foodbank.
“When it comes to the holidays, we are never on the sidelines.” said Christopher Owen, President and CEO of Meriwest Credit Union. “We take great pride in contributing to our community all year long, but it’s the Holidays that really bring out the personal giving spirit that exemplifies our employees and our members. I want to thank everyone who has contributed to our Holiday initiatives. This time of year the community’s needs are the greatest. You have warmed many hearts.”
About Meriwest Credit Union
Meriwest Credit Union, one of Silicon Valley’s largest and established financial institutions, has been providing proactive, personal, convenient and innovative financial services to over 72,000 businesses and families throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and Tucson, Arizona, since 1961. More information can be found at www.meriwest.com.