ONE YEAR OF GIVING A COMPILATION OF MEMORIES – JANUARY 2015 Nurturing our community by supporting health and wellness programs; financial literacy and education initiatives; and causes that assist children and underprivileged families.
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toy donated equals Christmas morning.
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One year, one community The CAP COM Cares Foundation is proud to make a difference in our community through the lens of our mission to support health and wellness, education and financial literacy, as well as children and underprivileged families. We are honored to share with you a small testament of the heartfelt programs and contributions that are so much more than just gifts or monetary donations. These stepping stones are paving the pathway to a brighter future. In 2014, CAP COM Cares Foundation reached a tremendous milestone, surpassing the $2.1 million marker in charitable contributions since its inception in 2003. This has been possible thanks to the generosity of our members, staff, business partners, friends and family. We couldn’t be happier to share this milestone and the sense of accomplishment that it brings. Whether we were adopting angels, fighting for a cure, helping students pay for higher education or delivering warm meals during the holidays, 2014 was filled with traditions, both old and new; memories, both fun and heartwarming; and smiles, both bright and joyous. The CAP COM Cares Foundation has worked hard and we will continue to work even harder to make a difference in the lives of every person, every time, every day, .
Paula A. Stopera President/CEO, CAP COM Federal Credit Union Chairperson, CAP COM Cares Foundation
We have the help of friends With hearts, hands and generous donations, our Foundation is fueled by many loyal friends. The purchase of one BIG Benefit Raffle ticket can feed a family during the holidays. One employee’s monthly Dress Down Day donation can buy 50 pairs of socks for a shelter at the end of the year. One Golf Tournament Sponsorship provides three scholarships to support higher education. One Saturday morning spent delivering gifts means 200 moments of magic during the holiday season. The work of our Foundation proves that one person truly can make a difference – no gesture is too small. Time is often what makes the biggest impact in the life of someone who needs support. “What’s a friend? A friend is someone you can count on, 365 days a year. St. Catherine’s Center for Children is proud to count CAP COM Federal Credit Union among its most loyal friends. Whether it’s delivering backpacks for students in the fall, meals to families at Thanksgiving, toys for children at Christmas, or ice cream treats and pony rides to children in the summer, CAP COM is there for our children and families throughout the year. – William T. Gettman Jr., Executive Director, St. Catherine’s Center for Children
CAP COM staff members participate in our annual Foundation Bowl-a-Thon.
CAP COM “Strides Star” and employee Anne Tironi participates in Making Strides Against Breast Cancer with her granddaughter.
We are champions of healthcare As an ally in the American Cancer Society’s fight for a cure, nearly $1 million has been raised to support Making Strides Against Breast Cancer. Our road warriors donate time to drive patients to treatment on the Road to Recovery. Support of the HopeClub, means those whose lives are touched by cancer have a warm and welcoming place to find the hope they need. We don’t think families should have to choose whether to buy food or necessary prescriptions, so we continue to support the Rensselaer Cares Prescription Assistance Program. A $100,000 gift to the St. Peter’s Health Partners capital campaign will help improve healthcare in Rensselaer County. “Having CAP COM Federal Credit Union take such an active role in Making Strides – making teams, rallying your company, family and friends to support us – is so meaningful and gives our many participants a different perspective on how we serve our community.” – Hillary Weiss, Senior Manager of Community Events, American Cancer Society.
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Employee’s lunch hour means cancer patient can relax on their way to
ONE MORE TREATMENT.
We help build a solid foundation One of the pillars of the CAP COM Cares Foundation mission, supporting education starts with the youngest of learners. Helping to instill a love of reading, we give hundreds of books each holiday season to children. Our support of the YMCA’s After School Program in the Albany School District helps ensure that 300 kids from low-income families continue to have a place to go after school. Encouraging heart-healthy activity, we partner with area schools to boost participation in the American Heart Association’s Jump Rope for Heart and help bring awareness to AHA’s mission. Inspiring young adults to reach for their dreams, we award more than $60,000 in scholarships annually. A $200,000 commitment to Hudson Valley Community College allows capital improvements to help fuel the Capital Region workforce.
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book gifted helps one more learn to
CHILD LOVE READING.
“CAP COM’s support of the American Heart Association’s Jump Rope for Heart program has improved the health of children in the Capital Region. The children love the awards from CAP COM, and the physical education teachers are thrilled to have the CAP COM donation to purchase more equipment. We applaud CAP COM for understanding the importance of creating fun exercise programs for children. In our Jump Rope for Heart program, the students are beginning the habit of preventing heart disease at a young age. CAP COM’S partnership is an investment in the future of the Capital Region.” – Katherine McCarthy, Senior Regional Director Communications, American Heart Association
CAP COM’s Brian Tramontano reads to children during the annual holiday giving program at The Commission on Economic Opportunity. Santa even stopped by!
We provide tools for success Whether paying tuition so that lowincome children can attend a summer Art Camp hosted by the Arts Center of the Capital Region, or filling more than 500 backpacks with school supplies, we believe in giving students the tools they need to succeed. We provide warm winter coats to hundreds of underpriviliged families so those children can start their school day warm and focused. A donation to the Wildwood Foundation Music Therapy Program allowed for the purchase of specialized drums, encouraging non-verbal children find their voice. There are so many ways we can help children succeed. We also recognize that education is a life-long pursuit. The YWCA’s Ready for Work Training Program supports adults with the resources they need to save and make financially fit decisions for themselves and their family.
Carie Sala, CAP COM’s Business Development Manager, delivers backpacks filled with school supplies to 500 children in the community.
ONE Bowl-a-Thon Team donation buys 10 NEW BACKPACKS
filled with school supplies for
CHILDREN IN NEED.
We shine a light There are a lot of ways that one person can make a difference. Foundation volunteers always end up delivering much more than the necessities for families in need. It’s these moments and memories created that help set the CAP COM Cares Foundation apart. And, wherever we go, we always bring the fun. A visit from the ice cream truck, a Tri-City ValleyCats baseball clinic for young ladies at Girls Inc, horseback rides or holiday cheer courtesy of the CAP COM Carolers – those are things that bring the light into the eyes of a child. And, there is no reward greater. CAP COM staff purchased and wrapped 200 gifts on the wish lists of area seniors and adopted families at Marillac Shelter to make sure they had gifts under the tree and the magic of the holiday season in their hearts.
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ice cream van visit, pony ride light small faces with rays of hope.
“The CAP COM Cares Foundation shares in Commission on Economic Opportunity’s mission to change lives and improve our community. The Foundation’s Holiday Giving Program gives such joy to our Head Start children, bringing smiles to their faces and ours. We look forward to Santa’s visit each year – maybe just as much as the kids do! The holidays can be hard on families, but initiatives like these make a positive impact.”
– Emily Cote, Commission on Economic Opportunity’s Marketing & Communications Officer
The littlest, yet mightiest, CAP COM Christmas caroler helped deliver Christmas trees, ornaments, food and gifts to families in need through our Holiday Giving Program.
We value family traditions In 2014, we were able to double contributions to our annual Share the Harvest program, providing a healthy meal for more than 300 families during the holidays. With financial support from Hannaford Supermarkets and Verizon Wireless, volunteers packed grocery bags with all the traditional fixings for a complete Thanksgiving dinner. The meals were delivered to area shelters, families identified by the City of Cohoes and 80 families from our school partners. This time of year always finds us counting our blessings with gratitude for our generous staff, members and business partners. It was on your behalf, that we made a $3,000 donation in 2014 to the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York so that more families could enjoy a warm holiday meal together.
Volunteers partner with the Cohoes Mayor’s Office to feed 15 local families during Thanksgiving.
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Big Benefit Raffle ticket purchased by a member means that family can share a Thanksgiving dinner.
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Amanda Goyer, Foundation & Public Relations Administrator, receives a warm hug after delivering brand new winter coats to children ages 2-12 at Troy’s Head Start Program.
About CAP COM Cares Foundation Formed in 2003, the CAP COM Cares Foundation is the community support and charitable giving arm of CAP COM Federal Credit Union. The purpose of the Foundation is to nurture our community by supporting community health and wellness programs; financial literacy and education initiatives; and causes that support children and underprivileged families. This is accomplished locally through the heartfelt generosity of CAP COM Federal Credit Union staff, Board volunteers, members, friends and supporters. Since our inception, the Foundation has: • Donated more than $2 million in monetary and in-kind contributions to organizations. • Awarded more than $60,000 in scholarships to college-bound students each year. • Created an extensive Financial Literacy Program to provide educational instruction and life skills in money management. • Filled more than 1,200 backpacks with school supplies and distributed them to children living in shelters. • Delivered more than 1,800 Thanksgiving baskets to needy families with all of the fixings of a traditional holiday meal.
“It’s more than a coat or a gift. It’s a smile. It’s a warm heart. And, it makes a difference.” – Amanda Goyer, Foundation & Public Relations Administrator
• Provided more than 1,400 new winter coats to disadvantaged children.
Partnerships are the heartbeat OF A BETTER COMMUNITY Abram Lansing Elementary AIDS Council Albany Police Athletic League Alzheimer’s Association American Cancer Society American Heart Association American Red Cross Arbonne Arts Center of the Capital Region Bethlehem High School Bus Stop Club BMEA-Business & Marketing Educator’s Assocation Capital City Rescue Mission Captain Youth & Family Services Centro Civico Cohoes City Music Hall Cohoes High School Cohoes Mayor’s Office Colonie DARE Colonie Senior Services Center CEO-Commission on Economic Opportunity Cute Syndrome Foundation Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Equinox Fast Break Fund First Israel AME Church For the Love of Sophie
Girls Inc. Harmony Hill Elementary Heatly Elementary Hudson Valley Foundation Interfaith Partnership for the Homeless Joseph’s House Junior Acheivement Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Literacy Volunteers of America Literacy Volunteers of Rensselaer County Living Resources Muscular Dystrophy Association New Scotland Elementary Northeast Health Foundation Northern Rivers Family Services NY National Guard Family Readiness Council Orenda Elementary Proctors Theatre Regional Food Bank of NENY Rensselaer Park Elementary Rizzo Foundation Ronald McDonald House Saint Rose College Schenectady ARC Schenectady County Community College Shenedehowa High School
Skribblers South Colonie Dollars for Scholars Sponsor a Scholar St. Catherine’s Center for Children St. Paul’s Shelter St. Peter’s Health and Seton Health Foundation Telecom Pioneers Thomas Patrick Morrison Foundation Troy Public School Troy School 14 Troy School 16 Troy School 18 Turnpike Elementary United Way Van Schaick Elementary Vanderheyden Hall Visiting Nurses Association Voorhesville School Kids Club Watervliet Elementary Watervliet Head Start WERC-Women’s Employment Resource Center Whitney M. Young Jr. Foundation Wildwood Foundation YMCA YWCA
CAP COM Cares
Foundation Proudly established by CAP COM Federal Credit Union
4 Winners Circle • Albany, NY 12205 www.capcomfcu.org/foundation • (518) 458-2195 • (800) 468-5500