PURCHASE, NY – Each year at Quorum Federal Credit Union, a Holiday Committee is created to help raise money for a local charity. On Thursday, December 17, 2009, the Committee sponsored a holiday party for the Spinal Cord Unit of James J. Peters Veterans Medical Center in Bronx, NY.
Fundraising for the event was a company-wide effort that included a bake sale, office raffles (prizes were a full-day off with pay, a $100 American Express Gift Card, and professional cakes baked and donated by employee Lisa Penirelli’s daughter, Ariana), and a “Charity Tree” decorated with ornaments listing presents desired by the veterans.
In total, Quorum employees raised $1,000 and donated 50 gifts. “Our fundraising efforts were so successful that in addition to the holiday lunch, we had money left over to purchase a 5-disc DVD player for the Veterans’ Day room, as well as some DVDs,” said Glenn Shuster, Vice President of Human Resources at Quorum.
On the day of the visit, employees also made “room calls” to patients unable to leave their beds, bringing them lunch, holiday stockings, presents and cheer. The appreciation felt by the veterans was expressed with warm smiles and lively banter, and echoed by “Harry,” a patient from the Spinal Cord Unit, and a former 1st Lieutenant of the Korean War: “I was happy Quorum was able to take the time out of their busy schedule to be with the veterans in the day room and also with the veterans who could not leave their room. Thank you for bringing this special program to us during the season.”
“I was touched by the warm welcome we received the day of our visit,” said Committee Member Sharon Kennedy. “Almost all of the veterans asked for simple presents like blankets and sweatshirts. One of the bigger presents was a PlayStation video game requested by one of the younger veterans, who was paralyzed from the neck down. It turns out he didn’t want the game for himself; but had requested it for his son. It was humbling to see how selfless and thoughtful the Unit was.”
Quorum Federal Credit Union sponsors events throughout the year to help the communities in which they serve.
Quorum Federal Credit Union (www.quorumfcu.org) is headquartered at 2 Manhattanville Road, Suite 401, Purchase, NY 10577. With over 40,000 members, it is among the largest credit unions in the nation. Quorum, a full-service financial institution, currently serves companies of all sizes and has members in all 50 states. Managed by its members with an elected, all-volunteer board, Quorum (FCU) maintains high levels of service and makes decisions in its members’ best interests.