Credit union encourages community and public to participate during ‘Survivor’s Walk’ at Eighth Annual Event May 15 

Riverdale, Utah – America First Credit Union, in support of West Haven Elementary School, will sponsor the eighth annual West Haven Elementary Hawk Walk from 7 to 9 a.m. Friday, May 15. Hosted by West Haven students, the mini Relay-for-Life raises funds for the American Cancer Society. America First will donate cookies, bottled water, a live DJ and $5 for every student walking from 7 to 8 a.m. A ‘Survivor’s Walk’ will be held at 8:45 a.m. Since its inception in 2007, the Hawk Walk has raised more than $41,000 for the American Cancer Society.

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.

“The Hawk Walk is an event especially important to our employees and their families,” said John B. Lund, president and CEO of America First Credit Union. “This year, we’re encouraging cancer survivors from throughout the community to partake in a Survivor’s Walk’ and join us in this great cause. We’re honored to give $5 to every student walking, as we all know someone who is affected by this disease.”

Beginning May 11, West Haven will send 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.

Visit www.americafirst.com, America First Credit Union on Facebook, Twitter, @AmericaFirst on Instagram and Pinterest. 

President and CEO John Lund states, “2014 is certainly one of the best years we’ve ever had.”

Riverdale, Utah – America First Credit Union held its 76^th Annual Meeting on Tuesday, April 14, 2015. On the agenda was a board election and voting for new credit union board officers. Members voted to retain three current board members and the board itself elected new officers.

Board incumbents Lyle Adams, Joy Jex and John Spease were retained by the voting membership. The Executive Committee selected James Wendler to serve as Board Chair, Linda Carver as Vice Chair and Kenlon Reeve as Secretary.  

Held in April of each year, the purpose of the Annual Meeting is to share the financial state of the credit union and give members the opportunity to determine the course of action by electing fellow members to serve on the Board of Directors. The dedicated and qualified individuals share their time, talents and efforts without compensation, making them part of the unique cooperative, not-for-profit structure. Incumbents were elected to the Board based on absentee ballots and votes from those in attendance joining fellow Board members as the credit union’s guiding voice.

In addition, the event was streamed live via the credit union’s Twitter account for added engagement and conversations online.  

For more information, visit www.americafirst.com, America First Credit Union on Facebook, Twitter, @AmericaFirst on Instagram and Pinterest. 

Riverdale, Utah – America First Credit Union, dedicated to financial literacy in the communities it serves, honored Ryan Gross, a Weber State University (WSU) history major, with its annual Tom Connors Memorial Scholarship for the 2015 – 2016 academic school year. Gross, a junior at WSU, received a full-year tuition and fees scholarship in the amount of $5,339.00.

The History Scholarship was established in 1993.  In 2012 the scholarship was renamed the Tom Connors Memorial Scholarship in memory of Tom Connors, a volunteer for America First Credit Union for more than 30 years. Since naming the scholarship after Connors in fall of 2012, family and friends have continued to make donations in support. To qualify for the Tom Connors Memorial Scholarship, the recipient must have and maintain a 3.0 grade point average or better with a declared major in history.

“It’s a rewarding opportunity when we are able to financially assist deserving individuals, such as Ryan, with our history scholarship,” said John B. Lund, president and CEO of America First Credit Union. “As a credit union, we are dedicated to efforts supporting our community and to making educational dreams a reality. Giving this scholarship each year in Tom’s honor is a true testament to our deep and abiding human values.” 

Connors retired from the U.S. Air Force as a Chief Master Sergeant in 1989, after serving his country for more than 30 years. In 1995, he graduated from Weber State University with a degree in history and minors in political science and anthropology. He also earned his teaching certificate in special education and taught at Canyon View Elementary in Ogden, Utah. Connors won the Sallie Mae First-Class Teacher Award, given to outstanding first-year teachers.

Connors began his volunteer service at America First Credit Union on the Credit Committee in 1982. In 1992, he was elected to the Board of Directors and later served as Chair. In addition, he served on the Nominations and Lending Committees, as advisor to the Supervisory Committee, the Marketing, Legislative, and Finance Committees, and as Chairman of the Political Action Committee. Connors was also a member of the World Council of Credit Unions, where he was a development educator and involved in the community development program. 

For more information, visit www.americafirst.com, America First Credit Union on Facebook, Twitter, @AmericaFirst on Instagram and Pinterest. 

Riverdale, Utah –  In celebration of National Credit Union Youth Month and in maintaining its strong dedication to youth financial literacy, America First Credit Union gets ‘Wild About Saving’ with a savings account contest that will run through the month of April, culminating Thursday, April 30.

Members aged zero through 17 who deposit money into a Share Savings Account during the month of April will be entered into eligible drawings for a $25 deposited into their account and $1,000 Coverdell Education Savings Account. Ten winners will receive a $25 deposited into their account and four winners will receive $1,000 deposited into a Coverdell Education Savings Account at America First Credit Union. Winners will be randomly selected from the pool of entrants.

Joining in the ‘Wild About Savings’ theme determined by the Credit Union National Association (CUNA), America First encourages youth members to post on their social media accounts using the dedicated hashtag #AFCUWildAboutSaving for additional entry opportunities.

“It’s so important for our youth to be engaged in a positive path towards savings goals and financial education,” said John B. Lund, president and CEO of America First. “We encourage youth to take advantage of these exciting contests and for parents to take this opportunity to teach their children the importance of saving during National Credit Union Youth Month.” 

For more information, visit www.americafirst.com, America First Credit Union on Facebook, Twitter, @AmericaFirst on Instagram and Pinterest.