St. Mary's Home Receives $20,000 Grant for Summer Camp From Chartway FCU's We Promise Foundation

NORFOLK, Va. - June 11, 2013 - PRLog -- The We Promise Foundation, the charitable arm of the Chartway Federal Credit Union, donated $20,800 to St. Mary’s Home to send 16 children and young adults with severe disabilities to summer camp.

The We Promise Foundation is the sole sponsor of St. Mary’s participation in Camp Horizon, a program The Up Center runs on the campus of Virginia Wesleyan College. Campers will spend eight weeks enjoying field trips, art sessions, sports activities, music lessons and outdoor games as they experience freedom and independence as a result of access to adaptive items and equipment.  

“St. Mary's Home will be able to send 16 children and young adults to summer camp this year because of the generosity of the We Promise Foundation,” said William C. Giermak, St. Mary’s CEO. "Camp is always a big highlight for us.”

This is the third year Chartway’s We Promise Foundation has sponsored summer camp for children and young adults of St. Mary’s. The Foundation also donated $20,800 to fully fund camp in 2012 and $10,000 to partially sponsor camp in 2011.

We Promise Foundation Chairman John Blum said the Foundation is proud to be able to help St. Mary’s with activities like summer camp. “It’s been great to have a relationship with St. Mary’s, a neighbor,” Blum said during a recent visit to St. Mary’s Home.  “Our employees and supporters are extremely passionate about making a difference in our community so we are honored to provide St. Mary’s residents with the chance to enjoy an enriching outdoor experience.”

About the We Promise Foundation

As the charitable arm of Chartway FCU and its divisions of HeritageWest, SouthWest Community and Utah Central Credit Unions, the We Promise Foundation is dedicated to making dreams come true for children struggling with degenerative, life-threatening, debilitating or chronic illnesses, or those facing tremendous hardship. The foundation was launched in 2005 based on the enduring success of Chartway’s charitable events. Since 1999, Chartway and We Promise Foundation have raised more than $5.3M to lighten the burden of more than 900 children through our partnerships with numerous charitable children’s groups who share our passion and mission to make a difference.

About Chartway Federal Credit Union

Chartway FCU, a not-for-profit financial institution, has been serving members and families since 1959, building a service network that includes 60 branches in 10 states. Headquartered in Virginia Beach, VA, the credit union’s reach extends through Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Rhode Island, Texas, Virginia and Utah. HeritageWest Credit Union and SouthWest Community Credit Union joined the Chartway family in 2010. Utah Central became part of the organization in 2011. Altogether, the organization has assets of more than $1.9 billion and serves nearly 200,000 members. For more information, visit www.chartway.com (https://mail.smhdc.org/owa/redir.aspx?C=e89a53a283324306b...); or, follow them at www.facebook.com/chartwayfcu (https://mail.smhdc.org/owa/redir.aspx?C=e89a53a283324306b...).

About St. Mary’s Home

St. Mary’s Home (http://www.saintmaryshome.org) provides quality, specialized care within a homelike environment for Virginia children and adults with severe disabilities, so each person can achieve his or her fullest potential. Children and young adults who have severe intellectual and physical disabilities live, play, go to school and receive comprehensive long-term and respite care at the private, nonprofit St. Mary’s Home. The Albero House at St. Mary’s will open in 2013 to provide care for adults over 21.

PHOTO CAPTIONS:

We Promise Foundation Donates $20,800 to St. Mary’s Home.JPG – Representatives from the We Promise Foundation, the charitable arm of Chartway Federal Credit Union, visited the playground at St. Mary’s Home to present a check for $20,800 to fully fund summer camp for residents of St. Mary’s. (L-R), John Blum, We Promise Chairman; Rene Bollinger, Chartway corporate human resources officer; Beth O’Toole, Chartway’s vice president of operations; Allison Bough, St. Mary’s major gifts officer; Wayne Foshay, Chartway’s chairman of the board; William C. Giermak, St. Mary’s CEO; Cindy Casteen, We Promise secretary/treasurer; Dallas England, Chartway’s board of directors; Brian Schools, Chartway’s corporate strategy officer; Mary Helen Hilton, St Mary’s director of annual giving; Payten, St. Mary’s resident; Amelia, St. Mary’s resident; Brandon, St. Mary’s resident; Zach, St. Mary’s resident.

Payten and We Promise Chairman John Blum.JPG – We Promise Foundation Chairman John Blum meets Payten, one of about 85 children and young adults who live at St. Mary’s Home.