News Releases : July - September, 2009
Kiddie Karnival Makes Finances Fun for Kids
Kimberly, WI — Kids can play games, earn prizes, and learn about smart ways to manage their money in a fun, interactive way at Capital Credit Union's 3rd Annual Kiddie Karnival, a "Road to Riches Adventure" on Friday, October 2, 4-7 p.m. at Capital's 855 Eisenhower Dr. office in Kimberly. Designed as a Money Smart Week kick-off event for children ages 12 and younger, it is sponsored by Capital's Critters savings club, and is free and open to the public. Complimentary tickets are available at all Capital offices. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
The outdoor event will be held in Capital's parking lot where participants will follow a giant "Road to Riches" path marked by giant "critter" foot prints, guiding them to games like "Pin the Tail on the Pig," the "Cash Cow Toss" (beanbag throw), and Capital Plinko. Kids receive a stamp card to keep track of the games they've played, and they also "earn" play money which can be traded for prizes or deposited into a Capital account at the end of the path. Each child will also receive a snack and juice. Karnival activities help educate children about "earning" and spending their money, focusing on smart money choices. Capital employee Ann Knaack and her husband, Jack, brought their grandchildren to last year's event, and according to Knaack, everyone had a good time.
"They had a ball," Knaack said. "They just couldn't wait. They kept asking, 'What’s next, what's next? Their favorite game was digging in the sand looking for coins," Knaack said.
More than 100 kids and their parents attended last year's Kiddie Karnival, and 30 Capital employees volunteered their time to make the event possible. For more information about Capital's Kiddie Karnival, call (920) 731-3195.
Capital Tops Two-Ton Food Drive Goal
Kimberly, WI — Six area food pantries and three animal care associations, some in tears, gratefully received more than 4,018 pounds of food, personal care and pet care items collected by Capital Credit Union as part of their 10th Annual Food Drive which topped their two-ton goal. Deliveries to the nine charities were just recently completed, the last two to St. Martin’s Food Pantry in Oshkosh and Saving Paws Animal Rescue in Neenah where empty shelves were restocked just in time to serve those in need in our communities.
Capital once again teamed up with Larry's Piggly Wiggly in Kaukauna and Little Chute for the Shopping Cart Races Food Drive kick-off in June, discounting the more than $600 in food and pet care items purchased and donated by Capital as part of the food drive. Capital employees and community members donated hundred of pounds of items like beans, rice, cereal, canned goods, pet food, and much more throughout the drive which ran from June 10-July 24. Shopping carts were placed in each of Capital's branches, and Larry's Piggly Wiggly stores in Kaukauna and Little Chute also served as drop off points for the generous donations from members, employees and friends in the community. Items received during Capital's Food Drive were either picked up or delivered to the following non-profit organizations to help people and pets:
• St. Joseph's Food Pantry - Menasha/Appleton/Greater Fox Cities area
• Hortonville Community Food Pantry - Hortonville/Greenville/Dale
• St. John's Food Pantry - Little Chute
• Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry - Kaukauna
• Freedom Food Pantry
• St. Martin's Food Pantry - Oshkosh
• Fox Valley Humane Association - Greater Fox Cities area
• Oshkosh Area Humane Society - Greater Oshkosh area
• Saving Paws Animal Rescue - Greater Fox Cities area
Capital Credit Union extends their sincere thanks to everyone who donated items to this year's food drive, with a special thanks to their food drive partners, Larry's Piggly Wiggly stores of Kaukauna and Little Chute and 94.3 KISS FM. Thanks also to the local television and radio stations and regional and local newspapers that helped spread the word. Capital is proud to give back to the communities they serve by sponsoring and coordinating their Annual Capital Food Drive to benefit people and pets each year.
Capital's Special Olympic Wellness Walk a "Buddying" Success
Kimberly, WI — More than 90 Capital members, employees and their families, and Special Olympic athletes and guests "buddied up" for Capital's 2nd Annual Wellness Walk for Special Olympics on Tuesday, August 18, raising more $550 for local Special Olympics chapters with a special jeans day for employees and a prize drawing that day. Part of Capital's employee Wellness Program, the Walk matched 23 Special Olympic athletes from Kaukauna Area Schools, ARC Fox Cities, and Valley Packaging Industries Special Olympics chapters with Capital "buddies" for a two-mile trek on the CE trail adjacent to Capital's 855 Eisenhower Drive branch in Kimberly. Other walkers had the chance to opt for either a two or four-mile hike.
Capital's President and CEO Alan Zierler walked the event with his wife, Judy, their three grandchildren, and buddy Joe Stumpf, a Special Olympics athlete from Kaukauna whom Zierler knows from volunteering with the Kaukauna Area Schools Special Olympics. Dubbed "Big Al" by Stumpf, Zierler enthusiastically joined his buddy and others who walked.
"The Capital Wellness Walk is an incredible opportunity for us to partner with Special Olympics," said Zierler. "It's a first-rate organization that supports the efforts of special individuals as they compete and reach for their personal best," said Zierler. "I have the great privilege of helping to coach Joe and getting to know him and other area Special Olympic athletes."
The Wellness Walk originated in 2008 as a simple way to promote wellness among Capital employees. Because the event was planned around the same time as a Capital Charity Casual Day to benefit Special Olympics, Capital's Wellness Committee decided to invite area Special Olympics athletes to join their employees as part of the Walk. After a successful event last year, the committee voted to make the Walk an annual event. This year, they opened participation to include Capital members as well as employees and Special Olympic athletes. Nicci Sprangers, regional director of development, wholeheartedly supported the event.
"Special Olympics was thrilled to partner with Capital Credit Union and be involved in this amazing event," Sprangers said. "We recently rolled out a new program called Healthy Choices which focuses on providing our athletes with a variety of health and wellness opportunities and services. Capital Credit Union's Wellness Walk was a perfect fit with this new initiative, and our athletes had a blast 'buddying up' with Capital's employees!"
The event began and ended at Capital's Eisenhower Drive parking lot in Kimberly, and included the Walk, prize drawings, Capital Plinko, and refreshments of water, bananas, and bagels supplied by Capital. Special Olympic Fox Cities also provided a "Healthy Snack" table on site where participants concocted their own trail mix blend of granola, raisins, pretzels and other snacks. Special Olympic participants also received a Capital sling pack filled with items courtesy of Capital. Athletes, employees and members of all ages and abilities enjoyed the exercise, the slightly breezy weather, and most of all, getting to know each other during Capital’s Wellness Walk for Special Olympics.
Capital Credit Union Awards Scholarship to Local Students
Kimberly, WI — Capital Credit Union recently awarded $7,000 in scholarships to area high school students during ceremonies at their schools. The seven winners, who were chosen from among 49 applicants, will each receive a $1,000 scholarship. Winners include the following graduating seniors from area high schools:
Alexandra Albers - Little Chute High School, planning to attend University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
Elise Brattlund - Hortonville High School, planning to attend University of Wisconsin-Green Bay or La Crosse
Stacy Lynn Doering - Kimberly High School, planning to attend University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh
Kyle W. Flynn - Oshkosh North High School, planning to attend University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
Samantha Hussman - Fox Valley Lutheran High School, planning to attend Martin Luther College in Minnesota
Marissa Reinke - Xavier High School
Tammy Vander Loop - Freedom High School, planning to attend University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
Capital's Scholarship Program is open to graduating high school seniors who are Capital members living in Outagamie, Calumet, Winnebago, or Brown counties planning to attend an accredited post-secondary institution. Winners were selected by a scholarship committee comprised of Capital employees and a Capital board member using a system that rates community involvement, leadership and scholastic achievement.
A strong supporter of education, Capital Credit Union is actively involved in promoting financial literacy, presenting programs in partnership with local school districts at the elementary level in Little Chute, and at high schools in Kimberly, Freedom, and Oshkosh. Supporting ongoing education is one of the many ways that Capital puts their values into action, as Capital President/CEO Alan Zierler explained.
"There is no better investment than a sound education to prepare our youth for the challenges they will face in our changing economic environment," Zierler said. "One of the ways we support our young adult members and their families is through our scholarship program. Continuing education at a two or a four-year college provides a strong foundation for better career opportunities and increases their chances for a successful financial future," Zierler said.
Headquartered in Kimberly, Wisconsin, Capital Credit Union was honored with a first place 2008 Dora Maxwell Award for Social Responsibility and a 2008 Louise Herring Award for Philosophy in Action. In 2009 Capital was recognized with the State Superintendent's Business Friends of Education Award and Heart of the Valley Excellence in Achievement Award. Capital has assets of more than $350 million and serves 33,000 members with 12 offices located throughout the greater Fox Valley area, Greenville, Oshkosh and Freedom.