Credit union in a charitable mood
By Chris Simon

Photo by Chris Simon Real Dads president Brad Young, front left, and Hospice Simcoe director of development Betty Matos, front right, received checks for their respective chairities from Peoples Credit Union last week, as part of the company's annual community involvement awards. Also pictured above are credit union director Earl Feren, left, chair Kevin Augustyn, Hospice Simcoe board member Deborah McGrath and credit union CEO Heather MacDonald.

A few thousand goes a long way.

Hospice Simcoe and the Real Dads Support Association received $2,000 and $1,000 respectively from the Peoples Credit Union at their Stroud branch Thursday, as part of an annual community involvement award presentation. For the hospice, the money will be used for the distribution of pamphlets through their education and awareness programs. Real Dads will use the funding to purchase a laptop for educational seminars and developing pamphlets, a website and other support material.

"Part of the rationale for asking for this money was so I could purchase a laptop so I could do more professional presentations off site," said Real Dads president Brad Young. "I am non-profit and I don't always have access to the technology. It's geared towards fathers, not just for troubled fathers but for any dad."

Young, a guidance teacher at a local school, says his organization helps teach fathers how to be better, more nurturing parents, by providing seminars, information and tips. After working with troubled students in the education system, he's seen how most do not have strong male influences in their homes.

Betty Matos, director of development for the hospice, says the money will help raise awareness of the need for sustainable funding for people living with lifethreatening illnesses in the region. Through education and advertising, the organization is raising enough money to build a residential hospice next year.

"Hospice Simcoe is very much like the little engine that could. We're a smaller charity and we have to work hard to get the recognition and support from the community," she said. "We're going to be building our residential hospice in 2008. Anything we can do towards driving that forward is essential."

The residential hospice will give those people a comfortable, home-like setting to live in while receiving treatment, said Matos. Both groups were selected for funding because of their potential impact on the community, said credit union CEO Heather MacDonald.

"We give back to the community, that's what we do; whether it be through participation or financial," she said. "We received a lot of applications, and it was a very tough decision. All were worthy. It was all about how it directly affects our community, our members. With who we supported, we really felt they do that."

The awards were part of International Credit Union Day. Celebrated since 1948, the day recognizes the history and achievements of credit unions, and their fundamental differences with banks, said MacDonald.

"It's a day to celebrate and bring people together to remember why we do what we do," she said. "Here, you're a person. We treat everybody the same. I know the banks will say the same thing, but there really is a difference."