HANSCOM AFB, Mass.–The Hanscom FCU Charitable Foundation provided an accounting of major gifts in 2018 during its sixth annual meeting at the Hanscom FCU main office on Hanscom Air Force Base, while the CU hosted the new base commander.
“The Foundation’s focus is on providing donations, marshaling both human and financial resources, and providing assistance where we can do great things for the community,” said Teresa Conrad, chairwoman of the Foundation. “We seek to create synergy by combining the Foundation’s objective with supporting members’ mutual interest in social welfare and betterment of quality of life that captures the true spirt of ‘People Helping People.’”
Conrad noted that the non-profit 501(c)(3) organization distributes 100% of its proceeds to charity and provided details of the Foundation’s extensive charitable activities in 2018 that included:
- A $135,000 donation to the Home Base program, bringing the Foundation’s total support to the organization over the past five years to $535,000. The donation will fund clinical care and support research that assists veterans and their families experiencing post-traumatic stress and traumatic brain injuries.
- Sponsorship of charity runners in the Boston Marathon to support Boston Children’s Hospital. Over $43,000 was raised to fund several pediatric brain research projects at the hospital, including the search for treatments, therapies, and cures for Moyamoya Disease, Sturge-Weber Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, and pediatric brain tumors.
- Ongoing raffles and fundraising for The Massachusetts Coalition of the Homeless to leverage financial support provided by Hanscom Federal Credit Union. So far $11,000 has been raised by the Foundation, and an additional $20,000 is expected to be raised from a year-end cash raffle. Volunteers also helped build beds as part of a team with Hanscom AFB personnel for the Bed for Every Child initiative.
- A donation of $10,000 to the Crossroads for Kids, an organization that provides support to economically disadvantaged kids in eastern Massachusetts looking to attend college.
- Financial support for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, the Lincoln School Foundation, the Boys and Girls Club of Lawrence, the New England Veterans Liberty House, and the National Credit Union Foundation.
Conrad also announced the Alan M. Hart Memorial Charity Golf Classic in September raised over $100,000 for the Home Base program and she thanked the volunteers who worked so hard to make this event a success. The Foundation also gave a $5,000 donation to Purple Heart Homes to help renovate the home of an aging veteran in Bedford.
Above right, from left:Bobby Jacques, Advisor, Hanscom FCU Charitable Foundation; Paul Marotta, Chairman of the Board, Hanscom FCU and Hanscom FCU Charitable Foundation Secretary; Teresa Conrad, Chairwoman, Hanscom FCU Charitable Foundation; and David Sprague, President and CEO, Hanscom FCU and Hanscom FCU Charitable Foundation Executive Director.
Separately, Hanscom Federal Credit Union recently welcomed newly appointed Hanscom AFB commander Colonel Chad R. Ellsworth to its main branch on base for a credit union briefing.
The briefing covered Hanscom FCU’s history and role in the local military community, its many charitable endeavors through its foundation, and the credit union’s plans for future growth. It also illustrated the role of credit unions in the financial services industry, and how their ethos of “People Helping People” benefits individual members and society as a whole. Col. Ellsworth was also introduced to several main branch employees during his visit.
“It was a pleasure welcoming Colonel Ellsworth to our main branch,” said Paul Marotta, Chairman of the Board of Hanscom FCU. “We have a special bond with the Hanscom AFB community, and it was important for us to let Col. Ellsworth know how much we value that relationship.”