August 29, 2008 Capital's fall events feature fun and learning for the community
Kimberly, WI — Fox Cities area community residents are invited to sign up and take part in Capital Credit Union's fall schedule of FREE events, with something for all ages:
• Tuesday, September 9: "Tomorrow's Scholar" Ameriprise Seminar
6:00-7:00 p.m.; complimentary light supper served at 5:30 p.m. at 855 Eisenhower Dr., Kimberly.
Looking for ways to pay for college? The average tuition and fees at a four-year private college/university in 2006-07 was $22,218-a 5.9% increase from the previous year. With room and board, the average total came to $30,367 to send a student to college for just one year! Learn about ways you can save for your child's future with programs like Tomorrow's Scholar, a 529 college savings plan. Call 738-9200 to reserve your spot.
• Wednesday, September 17: Capital Blood Drive for the Community Blood Center
7:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. - Capital Credit Union will hold a blood drive for the Community Blood Center at Capital's office at 1010 Prospect St. in Kimberly. The public is welcome and encouraged to donate. Appointments save time for the donor and are appreciated by calling (920) 731-3195. Walk-ins are also welcome. Donating blood is a safe, simple process. To donate, you must be at least 17 years-old, weigh at least 110 pounds, be in general good health, and bring a photo ID. Donors are encouraged to eat a regular meal and drink plenty of fluids prior to donating. The donation process takes approximately 45 minutes, including screening, blood donation, and a brief post-donation recovery time.
• Saturday, October 4: Capital's Critters Kiddie Karnival for Ages 2-12
9:00 a.m.-Noon; FREE admission - pick up tickets at any Capital office
Capital's Kiddie Karnival is a fun way for kids to learn about financial concepts - using a giant game board and chances to "earn" money along the way. All children ages 12 and younger are invited to attend this FREE event held at Capital Credit Union's 855 Eisenhower Drive location in Kimberly. Featuring a carnival-like atmosphere, games are designed for kids to explore smart ways to earn, save and manage their money. Kids will also enjoy a craft activity, refreshments and a chance to win prizes. Tickets are FREE and available at any Capital location. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Capital is committed to educating youth about making smart money choices. The Kiddie Karnival is a fun community event/kick-off for the Fox Cities celebration of Money Smart Week Wisconsin October 12-18.
• Tuesday, October 14: Investment Planning Ameriprise Seminar
6:00-7:00 p.m.; complimentary light supper served at 5:30 p.m. at 855 Eisenhower Dr., Kimberly.
How can you invest your resources in today's market, and what are some strategies you can use to make the most of your investments? What is "asset allocation" and how does "balancing" your portfolio work? Whether you already have investments or are just thinking about it, this seminar is for you. Call 738-9200 to reserve your spot.
August 27, 2008 Capital and Special Olympics "Buddy Up" for Wellness
Kimberly, WI — More than 100 Capital employees and families along with nine Fox Valley Area Special Olympic athletes and their guests hit the CE trail as part of Capital Credit Union's Wellness Walk for Special Olympics on Tuesday, August 19. The walk, part of Capital's employee Wellness Program which began just over a year ago, matched Special Olympians with a Capital buddy, and donations from an employee "Charity Jeans Day" and a special "Wellness Walk Donation Drawing" on walk day raised more than $650 for Special Olympics.
The walk began as a way to simply promote wellness among Capital employees. But with Capital's Charity Casual Day collection for Special Olympics taking place the week before, joining forces with the non-profit seemed like a perfect fit for both organizations. Capital's Vice President of Human Resources Kathy Fandrey, who also chairs their Wellness Committee, was pleased with the outcome.
"We accomplished two goals at once," Fandrey said. "First, we raised needed funds for a wonderful organization. Secondly, we got our employees and their families and friends out walking for some great exercise. This event was doubly successful."
Nicci Sprangers, regional director of development for Special Olympics Wisconsin Fox Valley Area, recruited Special Olympics athletes from three area agencies to take part in the walk, including Kaukauna Special Olympics, Valley Packaging and ARC Fox Cities. According to Sprangers, it was a great opportunity for their organization.
"Wellness and fitness are cornerstones of our program," said Sprangers. "So it was wonderful to see our athletes and the employees of Capital Credit coming together for this Wellness Walk."
Walk participants chose from a two or four mile walk/run or a six mile run, and everyone was able to take part at their own pace. Pairing Special Olympic athletes with Capital "buddies" created more of a team atmosphere and also notched up the fun factor according to Fandrey.
"The Special Olympic walkers were so much fun to walk with," Fandrey said. "It was wonderful for our employees to be able to 'buddy up' with them and get to know them better."
July 28, 2008 Capital Credit Union Brings Smiles to Kids in the Fox Valley
Kimberly, WI — A new dental clinic is in the works at the Fox Cities Community Health Center thanks in large part to a four-year donation of $100,000 toward the project from Capital Credit Union. Capital is a founding sponsor of the new dental clinic which is slated to open in January 2009, with other funding sources to include federal and state grants and other private contributions.
The clinic will be part of the Fox Cities Community Health Center in Menasha and expands the Health Center's model of a "medical home" by coordinating the medical, mental health and now the oral health of children and adults in Outagamie, Winnebago and Calumet counties. The dental clinic will be located in what used to be the WorkForce Development Daycare Center, with a focus on preventative and minor restorative care for children and adult patients. The dental clinic area is designed as an extension of the current medical clinic and will initially include four dental chairs and a separate waiting area. Patients will register for both dental and medical services at the same Health Center reception desk.
"We really want to tie it together so that it's one Health Center-not the medical part and then the dental area," said Kristene Stacker, Fox Cities Community Health Center executive director. "We're kind of the care coordinators, a starting place for people, not only addressing their medical needs, but also their mental and oral health needs." The Health Center already cooperates with Tri-County Dental to serve the need of patients and will continue to do so for patients in need of more extensive dental work. The new dental care area expects to see about 2,500 patients in the first year.
According to Capital's President and CEO Alan M. Zierler, Capital's involvement in the dental care project came after investigating several opportunities for helping the needy in the communities they serve.
"We wanted to help in the area of basic needs," Zierler said. "After looking at a couple of different programs (food, clothing, shelter, etc.), we became aware that the Fox Cities Community Health Center had been researching the idea of opening a dental clinic on their campus. That's when we began talking with them in terms of how we could be of assistance and what kind of commitment they would need to get things up and running."
Dr. Bruce DuMontier, DDS, of Appleton, has already signed on as the dental services director and staff dentist for the first year. A dental hygienist and dental assistant will be hired in the coming months to complete the 2009 dental/oral health staff. DuMontier has 25 years experience in a private dental practice and most recently worked as a dental supervisor in the correctional system.
It is estimated that 62,000 children and adults are in need of oral health care in the three county area served by the Fox Cities Community Health Center. Of the hundreds of dental patients anticipated to be served by this project, more than half will be in the 3-18 year old age group. According to a 2001 Oral Health and Learning study by Georgetown University, children from families with low incomes had nearly 12 times as many missed days of school or restricted activity due to dental problems. Early tooth loss caused by dental decay can result in failure to thrive, impaired speech development, absence and inability to concentrate in school, and can also reduce self-esteem.
Capital Credit Union is deeply committed as a founding sponsor of this program, and they look forward to seeing it grow and impact the lives of area children and others in need.
"We're involved in our communities in so many ways, in our schools and different events and programs like our food drive," said Zierler. "But weĠd never been involved in a medical project, so this worked very well in completing the spectrum of ways that we help those in our communities."
Greg Devine, Chairman of the Fox Cities Community Health Center Board, gratefully acknowledged Capital's contribution and reiterated the Center's reliance on community support in order to serve those in need.
"Contributions and support like Capital's, over a number of years, allows us to do much more than we could otherwise," Devine said. "The board agreed to go forward with this project. I'm not sure we would have come to the same conclusion if we hadn't had the backing from Capital. I think that [Capital's contribution] pushed us to the point where we said, 'Okay, we can do this.'"
Headquartered in Kimberly, Wisconsin, Capital Credit Union (www.capitalcu.com) was voted first place winner of the 2007 Best Financial Institution and Best Mortgage Lender in the Post-Crescent's Reader's Choice Awards, and the Oshkosh Northwestern's Best of Oshkosh Best Financial Institution. With assets of more than $324 million, Capital serves more than 32,000 members with 12 offices located throughout the greater Fox Valley area, Greenville, Oshkosh and Freedom.