Winston-Salem, NC, June 29, 2007- Members Credit Union employees, including seven top managers, spent their Friday getting dunked in a tank of water for the Victory Junction Gang Camp (VJGC). The event came about in response to a challenge made by the Carolinas Credit Union Foundation, one of VJGC’s largest supporters, to credit unions of North and South Carolina to help support their sponsorship of the July 7-11 Spina Bifida week at the camp.
“The key to raising money is having a wonderful cause and creating a lively atmosphere,” comments Vice President-Marketing Eric Stiff. “What better way to build excitement than to let employees dunk their bosses – for most of them, it’s a dream come true!”
President/CEO Jack V. Braswell, Jr. and EVP Bob Donley, the credit union’s top executives, attracted long lines of members, employees, and credit union friends for their thirty-minute dunk sessions. Braswell, who has all employees strictly adhere to a professional dress code at all times, took his place in the booth wearing a business suit, tie, and wingtip shoes.
“The only thing we take more seriously than our dress code at Members Credit Union is community support,” jokes Braswell. “When annual reviews come up, though, rest assured I’ll remember every employee who ruined my wool suit!”
In addition to Braswell, Donley, and Stiff, other victims in the tank included Director of Accounting Cindy Stiff, Director of Member Services Wendy Brannock, Director of Training Barbara Tucker, Director of Public Relations Matt Davis, Information Technology’s Matt Baldwin, Public Relations Assistant Carla Kimel, and Executive Secretary Melanie Huffman. The North Carolina Credit Union Network’s Political Action Specialist Mickey Fanney even volunteered to take a few dives.
“I spend most of my week asking credit union employees for financial support,” says Fanney. “When some of the credit unions found out about this particular event, they were more than happy to volunteer me to get dunked.”
The fundraiser, located at the $200 million credit union’s Frontis Plaza Boulevard headquarters from 10:00am-4:00pm, also featured hot dog picnic lunches to maximize donations. The credit union expects to raise over $1,000 for VJGC through the Carolinas Credit Union Foundation.
# # #
About Victory Junction Gang Camp
The mission of the Victory Junction Gang Camp is to enrich the lives of children with chronic medical conditions or serious illnesses by providing life-changing camping experiences that are exciting, fun, and empowering, in a safe and medically sound environment. Founded by NASCAR driver Kyle Petty and his wife Pattie in honor of their late son Adam, the Victory Junction Gang Camp is a year-round facility serving children, age 7 to 15. Each summer, children suffering from similar medical conditions including heart, lung and kidney disease, spina bifida, HIV, cancer, burn survivors, neurological disorders, and a host of others, gather to kick back, relax and have some fun. The camp offers traditional activities, including horseback riding, boating and fishing, arts and crafts and others, as well as NASCAR related program areas.
The Victory Junction Gang Camp is a member of the Association of Hole in the Wall Gang Camps and is free to children and their families. The camp operates solely on the generous donations of individuals, corporations and foundation. For more information, visit www.victoryjunction.org.
About the Carolinas Credit Union Foundation
The Carolinas Credit Union Foundation represents credit unions of North and South Carolina with the mission to improve the economic and social conditions of credit unions, their families, and the communities they serve by providing educational opportunities, enhancing childhood development, offering credit union assistance, and by providing aid in times of natural and man-made disasters. The foundation has raised over $1.75 million for the Victory Junction Gang Camp. www.carolinasfoundation.org.