Technology Credit Union Gives Food, Clothing and Donations to Help Those in Need

SAN JOSE, CA -- (MARKET WIRE) -- February 1, 2007 -- Technology Credit Union (Tech CU), among the top one percent of the nation's largest credit unions, is proud to announce that the generosity of its members and employees enabled the credit union to donate more than 100 pounds of food and 40 bags of clothing in December to help local families in need in the Bay Area. In addition, Tech CU gave a cash donation of $1,184 to Baker Elementary and Country Lane Elementary Schools to help fund school supplies and other programs.

When Karen Crabtree, the Tech CU community liaison got a call from Cupertino Community Services saying they were in need of donations for low-sodium and low-fat canned food, she knew exactly what to do. "I sent out an email to all of our employees and members, asking them to give what they could. We called it a 'Souper Healthy Food Drive' and set up donation barrels in all of our branches."

Within days, individuals had donated more than 100 pounds of food at Tech CU's nine locations throughout the Bay Area.

"It was great to have Tech CU partner with us on this," said Kim Ferm, program director for CCS. "We told them what we needed, and the next thing we knew, they're delivering barrels of food to our door."

Ferm says that CCS' food pantry receives nearly 800 visits each month from individuals and families in the community, and they are seeing an increase in the number of clients who have special dietary needs, particularly among seniors and the disabled. The donations made by Tech CU have helped to fill this need, but Ferm says that with so many people coming to their pantry throughout the year, CCS can always use additional donations from the public at large.

If you would like to donate healthy canned foods (low sodium soup, any low sodium food or pop-can foods such as soup, meat, fruits or vegetables), please contact CCS directly at (408) 255-8033 or go online at www.cupertinocommunityservices.org.

Tech CU also sponsored a clothing drive during the holidays for HOPE Services, a Santa Clara nonprofit that assists people with developmental disabilities to live and participate in their communities. The drive brought in more than 40 large garbage and shopping bags full of clothes, bedding, towels/linens and books, a volume that was so large, it filled up the credit union's entire lobby.

All donated items are resold at the HOPE Station store in Fremont or Savers thrift stores throughout California. Store proceeds directly benefit HOPE clients with job training, job placement and independent living services.

If you would like to donate to HOPE Services, the nonprofit offers a donation pickup service that provides free home pickups of good quality used clothing and small household items in Santa Clara, San Mateo and Alameda Counties. For more information, visit their web site at www.hopeservices.org. All donations are tax deductible.

As part of Tech CU's commitment to supporting education in the Bay Area, the credit union has donated a total of $1,184 to two local schools, Baker Elementary and Country Lane Elementary, through a community-based Scrip fundraising program. Scrip fundraisers give organizations like Tech CU the power to purchases gift certificates for everyday things like food, clothing, and entertainment with a percentage of each dollar of scrip purchased given to a nonprofit that is participating in the program.

Shveta Bagade, the co-chair of the Country Lane Home and School Club, says of the program, "It really makes a difference to our classrooms. The money we receive goes directly to the school to help fund everything from supplies to field trips and computers -- basically, anything the school needs that the district can't provide for because of inadequate budgets. It's great when we get corporate support for this program from companies like Tech CU."

About Technology Credit Union

Technology Credit Union is a full-service, member-owned financial institution serving technology and business professionals in California and their families, as well as individuals who work, live, go to school or regularly worship in Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa, Santa Cruz, San Mateo and San Francisco counties. Tech CU began in 1960 and is now among the top 1 percent of the nation's largest credit unions. With more than $1.2 billion in assets and nine full-service branches around the Bay Area, Tech CU is a leader in the credit union industry.

Contact Information: Contact Information: Tawnya Lancaster Public Relations 408-205-1618 tlancaster@lancaster-group.com Karen Crabtree Technology Credit Union Phone: 408-441-4736 kcrabtree@techcu.com