Alliant Credit Union Foundation Passes $1 Million in Donations

10/24/2014 • Press Releases

The Alliant Credit Union Foundation donated over $200,000 to charitable causes during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2014, announced Foundation President and Alliant Credit Union Chief Investment Officer Wayne Rosenwinkel.

The Foundation, a 501c3 not-for-profit charitable organization, has a meaningful mission, according to Rosenwinkel: “Since the Alliant Credit Union Foundation began five short years ago, it has given out over $1 million to enhance economic empowerment and self-sufficiency in places where Alliant Credit Union members and employees live and work.”

During the recently completed fiscal year, Alliant’s Foundation awarded grants to various national and local charities in amounts ranging from $500 to $30,000. A few Foundation activities from the 2014 fiscal year are summarized below:

Prescott Magnet Cluster School, Chicago — Alliant partnered with Prescott Magnet Cluster School in Chicago to provide rich learning experiences for families and children at the school. Recent initiatives include Alliant Credit Union Foundation’s purchase of backpacks and supplies for all Prescott students. For each break in the school calendar, the Foundation purchases books for students to read with their families and add to their home libraries.

A collage of notes and artwork sent to Alliant by the students of Chicago’s Prescott Magnet Cluster School as a thank you for donations of school supplies and books.

Business and Professional Women’s (BPW) Foundation — The Foundation provides ongoing support to BPW’s Joining Forces Mentoring Plus® program, which provides complimentary financial education and job counseling to U.S. military wives and women veterans. Their online employment mentoring platform was developed with grant funds provided by Alliant Credit Union Foundation.

Alliant Credit Union President & CEO David Mooney accepts the Business and Professional Women’s (BPW) Foundation Innovative Programming Award presented recently by BPW Foundation Board Trustee Leslie Wilkins. The award was given to Alliant for its strong commitment to provide financial literacy resources for women veterans, military/veteran spouses and other women associated with the military.

Foster Care to Success — Foundation grants help Foster Care to Success achieve its vital mission of providing educational guidance, financial aid and other help to youths aging out of foster care.

Leukemia and Lymphoma Society — The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) was the recipient of the funds raised through Alliant’s Eighth Annual Employee Volleyball Tournament. Alliant employees raised funds via event T-shirt sales, raffle tickets and sponsorship donations. Funds raised by employees were then matched by the Alliant Credit Union Foundation, netting a grand total of $13,000 for LLS.

Alliant employees play volleyball at the Eighth Annual Employee Volleyball Tournament, Volley 2013 for LLS.

Des Plaines Community Foundation — The Alliant Foundation supports the community near its Chicago headquarters via grants to the Des Plaines Community Foundation, which runs local Meals on Wheels programs, bicycle helmet giveaways and senior programs. Two Alliant employees serve on the Des Plaines Community Foundation board of directors.

Local Community Libraries— The Alliant Foundation has purchased DVD boxed sets of the TV show Biz Kid$. This PBS program addresses topics related to financial literacy and business. Alliant donated the boxed sets of each of the first four seasons of the program to libraries in communities surrounding its headquarters near Chicago’s O’Hare Airport. Summer and holiday book giveaways at the community library in Des Plaines, Illinois, were also funded by Alliant’s Foundation.

American Heart Association — Alliant Wear Red Day was patterned after the American Heart Association’s National Wear Red Day to raise awareness and money in the fight against heart disease in women. Alliant’s Foundation donated $10 on behalf of each of the 242 Alliant employees nationwide who participated by wearing red the day of the event. A donation of nearly $2,500 was made to this worthy cause.

Alliant Wear Red Day coordinator Maura Ronayne (center) poses with other participants including: (top to bottom left) Alliant CEO & Foundation Chm. David Mooney, Rob Russell, Sherry Allen & Colleen Panzino; (top to bottom right) Sandy Beckman, Foundation President Wayne Rosenwinkel, Pam Leibfried, Kim Ball & Priscilla Tolemy.

Hadley School for the Blind — The Foundation continues to support Hadley’s Forsythe Center for Entrepreneurship. Alliant’s support enabled the development of an online course on developing entrepreneurial skills for the blind, a population with an unemployment rate of over 75% nationally.

Operation HOPE — Alliant aids Operation Hope via grants from the Foundation and a team of Alliant employees who teach its Banking on our Future financial literacy program on a volunteer basis. During the 2013-2014 school year, Alliant taught 64 classes about money management and finances to the nearly 500 eighth graders in the Des Plaines, Illinois, public school system.

United Airlines Foundation — The Alliant Credit Union Foundation donated $18,000 to support United’s annual North Pole Fantasy Flight. Alliant employees volunteered at participating airports near Alliant Branches, arranging decorations, serving treats and providing other services to make the holidays festive for seriously ill or disadvantaged children and people with disabilities. Fantasy Flights took the recipients to the North Pole, including visits with Santa, gifts, food and other holiday activities.

Alliant headquarters employees pause to pose while decorating the Welcome Bridge at O’Hare International Airport. (L to R) John Velliquette, William Osborne and wife Donna Jean, Robert Swatek, Maura Ronayne and Albert Obay.

Two of Santa’s elves, Alliant’s Matthew McMillon (left) and Marcos Magana, helped decorate the North Pole at Los Angeles International Airport.

March of Dimes — This spring, Alliant employee participants in the March of Dimes Blue Jeans for Babies Day made donations in exchange for a day of wearing blue jeans to work. The Foundation provided a grant to the March of Dimes matching all funds raised by participating employees.

Bears Care (Chicago Bears charity) — Bears Care, an organization committed to improving the quality of life for people in the Chicagoland community, especially disadvantaged children and their families, was the recipient of funds raised by employees at Alliant’s annual Super Bowl Chili Day. Alliant’s Foundation provided matching funds, bringing the total donation to nearly $8,000.

Alliant Super Bowl Chili Day coordinator Sherry Allen (center) presents an oversized check representing the Bears Care donation from the credit union’s employees and Foundation. Also pictured left to right: Alliant’s Jill Okolita, Janet Meinheit and Sherry Allen, Bears Care Director Marge Hamm and Alliant Senior VP Tim Wartman.

Bob Panzino Golf Tournament — The Alliant Credit Union Foundation continued its annual support of the Bob Panzino Memorial Golf Outing, benefiting the Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation, via a grant and donations made on behalf of each Alliant employee golfer who participates in the event. 

Special Olympics — The Foundation was proud to support this year-round program of sports training and athletic competitions by donating registration fees for any Alliant employee who participated in the Plane Pull for Special Olympics at O’Hare International Airport.

Alliant Credit Union Foundation selects its beneficiaries from grant applications and from recommendations of Alliant employees whose lives and families have been affected by the cause that a supported organization serves. 

Additionally, the Foundation’s Matching Donations Program issues grants equal to an individual Alliant employee’s donation of up to $200 annually to eligible charities. 

“Alliant Credit Union Foundation is proud of its continuing support of schools, charities and other organizations that work to improve the quality of life in the communities of our members and employees,” said Alliant Credit Union CEO and Foundation Chair David Mooney.