America First Strolls in Support of 10th Anniversary of West Haven Elementary Cancer Walk

-Joined by the Utah Jazz dancers and Jazz Bear, the credit union encourages community and public to help meet $10,000 goal for 10^th annual event May 20-

Riverdale, Utah – America First Credit Union will once again join in the cause to raise monies for the American Cancer Society alongside West Haven Elementary School during its 10th Annual Hawk Walk 7 a.m., Friday, May 20. Hosted by West Haven students, the mini Relay-for-Life raises funds for the American Cancer Society. Since its inception in 2007, the Hawk Walk has raised more than $47,000 for the American Cancer Society. As part of the decade-long celebratory milestone, West Haven students and teachers have embarked on a goal to raise $10,000 to donate to the cancer society.

In support of West Haven’s goal, America First will donate cookies, bottled water, a live DJ and $5 for every student walking from 7 to 8 a.m. The America First Credit Union Utah Jazz dancers and the Utah Jazz mascot, Jazz Bear will be in attendance to cheer on the walkers.

The annual event held in May is designed to encourage students and individuals to learn the principle of generosity. West Haven Elementary has continued to support the Hawk Walk by implementing donation programs across campus. Once a month, the school encourages students to participate in ‘wear a hat’ to school day, which allows them to get involved by donating $1 to the cause. Delivery and district workers are also invited to participate by donating $1 if they are wearing a hat on campus. So far this school year, West Haven has generated a total of $3,230 through this effort. The school did donate $1,030 of the money raised to the family of a student at the school who has cancer.

“The 10-year celebration of the Hawk Walk is an important milestone for our employees and their families,” said John B. Lund, president and CEO of America First Credit Union. “As we support West Haven Elementary in reaching its $10,000 goal for the American Cancer Society, we encourage the community to join us in this great cause. We all know someone affected by this disease and America First is proud to donate $5 for each student participant.”

Beginning May 11, West Haven sent fliers inviting the students’ families and friends to donate the week leading up to the Hawk Walk. A friendly competition between classes will up the ante, with a traveling ‘Golden Sneaker’ award for the two classes (grades four through six and kindergarten to third), raising the most money each day.

The Hawk Walk began in 2007 when then West Haven sixth grader, Garrett Gallegos, and his mother, Tammy, who is a Senior 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 the first mini Relay-For-Life Hawk Walk.

West Haven Elementary is located at 4385 South 3900 West, West Haven, Utah 84401. For more information on how to donate, please call 801-452-4960 or 801-452-4979.