The FOX5 Surprise Squad met Margaret Payne over the summer during a surprise mission at Albertsons. When offered her surprise, Payne wanted to pay it forward instead, saying she doesn’t have a family around for all of those groceries. Fast forward to Thanksgiving week and the Surprise Squad sought out “Ms. Margaret” to make sure she has a family this holiday. Thanks to our Surprise Squad partners United Nissan, America First Credit Union and Albertsons/Vons.
It pays to be nice!  A sweet homecoming proposal at Shadow Ridge High School gets the attention of the FOX5 Surprise Squad … and OMG! what a memorable night it turns out to be. Daniel Rivas, 17, has Down Syndrome and dreamed of going to the dance but was turned down. So Kylie Fronius, a 10th grader steps up. Her simple act of kindness prompts a night of surprises no one could have imagined!
An aunt writes the FOX5 Surprise Squad about her 11-year-old nephew who was recently diagnosed with Leukemia and now desperately awaiting a bone marrow match. Â You won’t believe how the Squad turned this little warrior into an MVP!
The America First Financial Solutions program offers investment products to help you achieve your personal objectives, including:
∙ Saving for a home
∙ Providing resources for college
∙ Planning a comfortable retirement
Ask us for details.
The holidays are nearly here and while many of our thoughts turn to giving, online thieves are focused on how much they can take, with a host of schemes to rob us of our information, money & seasonal good cheer.
Here are a few tips to avoid becoming a victim during this time of year:
∙ Mobile SMS fraud — Sent via text, these messages contain dangerous links encouraging you to update or install an app, infecting your device with malware.
∙ Shopping schemes — Too-good-to-be true offers and steep discounts on must-have items may originate from phony sites. You could also encounter fake contests on social media designed to get your personal information or proliferate spyware.
∙ Traveling blues — If you’re planning a trip to visit family or going on a winter getaway, scammers know it. They’re hoping to catch you by offering you fraudulent travel deals or sending spam. Be on the lookout for these tactics.
∙ Dangerous greetings — When you get an electronic card, be careful before you click. Some of these contain viruses.
∙ Doing our part — Be sure to go here for updates regarding how we are constantly working to safeguard your resources.
By John B. Lund, President & Chief Executive Officer
On a recent visit to one of the country’s larger cities, I arrived several hours prior to my first meeting. With the extra time, I decided to go for a walk/run in an effort to get my daily steps in.
As I headed down the street, I came upon a small park with a three-lane, quarter-mile track around the perimeter, which made it the ideal place to exercise without having to deal with traffic, etc.
During my first lap, I noticed an older gentleman pushing a young man in a wheelchair who was mentally & physically disabled. The two were softly conversing, with the boy smiling and clearly pleased to have the company. On another turn, I saw the man massaging the shoulders and neck of his younger companion. The next time around, the gentleman had moved to a location offering a different view. This heartfelt interaction between the two continued the entire hour I spent at the park.
By himself, this young man couldn’t experience the basic joys of life many of us take for granted. Yet this kind gentleman intuitively perceived how he could help the boy savor this valuable time outside on beautiful warm afternoon.
As I made my way around and around the track, time seemed to pass much more quickly as I forgot about my minor aches and pain by focusing on the beautiful act of service I saw. I felt a powerful sense of gratitude toward this gentleman. It was inspirational witnessing such thoughtful and tender service. This motivated me to think a little bit less about myself and to be more sensitive to the needs of others.
During November, we celebrate Veterans’ Day and Thanksgiving. Hopefully, we can all pause to recognize and openly thank those who have served this country and those who are now defending our freedom all over the world. Gratitude is a simple yet powerful force for good and we can always be generous in displaying it.
I hope each of you has a wonderful season. We appreciate your membership in and loyalty to America First. We look forward to a lifetime relationship.
With the arrival of fall, this season America First Credit Union is here to serve the community by giving back at various community events, including, Safe Street, a Halloween extravaganza! ! The locally owned and deeply rooted business will be launching their “Warm the Soles†program to help provide shoes to children in need.
For more information, click here
This segment is sponsored by America First Credit Union.
By John B. Lund, President and Chief Executive Officer
What is a hero? Are they like characters we see in movies with supernatural skills, fancy gadgets, or special outfits?
As part of an internal initiative, we brought in a group of kids ranging in age from two to 10. We posed a series of questions to them regarding the concept of heroes and recorded their responses. The wisdom and honesty of children is inspiring. To follow are excerpts of our inquiries and their answers.
What is a hero to you? Someone who protects you. Someone who does good things and serves others, [who] helps people and is nice to them. Someone who is kind and generous. Fights bad guys and saves the day. A person [who] is there when you need them.
Why do we need heroes? [To] help people when they are down. To protects us. To help us live happily. To put fires out. Protect our city. To save the day. If you are sad, you need a shoulder to cry on.
How do you become a hero? Being nice to people and picking up trash. Protecting people. By cleaning up my brother’s room. By doing what’s right. By being friendly and nice. Helping my friends and keeping them safe. Telling the truth. Being a friend to those [who] need a friend. You don’t need super powers to be a hero, you just need to help people.
Who is a hero in your life? Mom, dad, grandma, grandpa, military guys, firefighters, police, Jesus.
Why are they your heroes? They give me hugs. Helps me when having trials. Makes a bad day a better day. Taught me to swim. Protects [us] from bad stuff like smoking. They are kind, sweet and loving. Does the dishes. Helps me understand problems. Loves me. Stands up for what’s right. There for me all the time.
Online security is important for your financial health, no matter the time of year. We’re here to provide you with some simple steps you can take to keep yourself safe during the busy fall months.
• Malicious greetings — Emails often invite recipients to click on a card, video, or animation. While some are harmless, cybercriminals can imbed viruses and spyware in them; open all file attachments and URLs with care.
• Phishing for friends — Social media is often where phishing attacks take place. Think twice about adding friends you don’t really know and never divulge personal data to anyone online.
• Devices gone missing — Annually, thousands of travelers will lose their laptops, smartphones & tablets during the coming months. Therefore, it’s wise never to leave a boarding gate, vehicle, or security checkpoint without taking a mental inventory of your electronics.
• Dangerous downloads — Always use common sense when downloading games, file-sharing tools, streaming clients, and other third-party apps. Deploy anti-virus software to detect malware.
For more information regarding how your credit union is working to guard your resources, please visit us here.
There are many of our family, friends & neighbors who go without adequate food every week and those who don’t know where they will get their next meals.
Thankfully, your generosity has always worked in opposition to this trend and we’re again asking you to ensure the Greater Good food drive is a lasting and successful tradition.
We’ll be accepting canned & non-perishable items — as well as other necessities, such as toothbrushes, diapers, soap and toilet paper — at our branches through Saturday, October 22.
You’ll be entered into a drawing for an Apple Watch for each contribution. And you’ll be making a difference in the lives of the less fortunate & the communities we share.
Click here to locate an office near you. Then stop by and donate. We appreciate your support.
*Drawing eligibility & conditions apply. Must be 18 years old to participate.
