Press Release: Local Credit Unions Provide a Day of Fun, Prizes and Learning for North-Central West Virginia
(Fairmont, WV) With gas prices soaring, regional credit unions have combined their efforts to offer the North-Central community a local, exciting day for the entire family with FUNancial Fest 2008. On June 21st from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., residents are encouraged to visit Fairmont’s entertainment destination, Valley Worlds of Fun, to enjoy a live D.J., food, prize giveaways and learning opportunities, in addition to the bowling lanes, Lasertag, arcade, bumper cars and other thrilling activities located at the entertainment park. Prizes available for those attending include a Nintendo Wii, iPods and iTunes gift cards, bicycles, gas cards and an opportunity to grab cash in a Money Machine, and much more.
Parents are encouraged to attend and bring their children as many health, safety and well-being services will be onsite, such as Amberview, children fingerprinting, drug awareness education and the college savings program Smart 529. Also, We Shred – a secure document disposal service – will be available. Brief seminars will be presented throughout the day discussing important financial topics such as, improving credit scores, avoiding identity theft and budgeting, among others for anyone wishing to attend.
“A summer vacation simply isn’t an option for many in our region with the current economy. It was our goal to provide the region with an affordable ‘mini-vacation,’ that everyone can enjoy. Above all else, credit unions strive to benefit their local communities. We hope that those attending will sense the community commitment, as we’ve tried to uphold the events motto: ‘Credit Unions … A world of better banking for everyone,’” said Shelly Fluharty, a FUNancial Fest 2008 organizer.
Parents are encouraged to attend and bring their children as many health, safety and well-being services will be onsite, such as Amberview, children fingerprinting, drug awareness education and the college savings program Smart 529. Also, We Shred – a secure document disposal service – will be available. Brief seminars will be presented throughout the day discussing important financial topics such as, improving credit scores, avoiding identity theft and budgeting, among others for anyone wishing to attend.
“A summer vacation simply isn’t an option for many in our region with the current economy. It was our goal to provide the region with an affordable ‘mini-vacation,’ that everyone can enjoy. Above all else, credit unions strive to benefit their local communities. We hope that those attending will sense the community commitment, as we’ve tried to uphold the events motto: ‘Credit Unions … A world of better banking for everyone,’” said Shelly Fluharty, a FUNancial Fest 2008 organizer.
Dominion Post June 21, 2008: Credit unions sponsor fun fest in Fairmont
Times West Virginian: FUNancial Fest: It’s "people helping people"
BY JESSICA LEGGE TIMES WEST VIRGINIAN
FAIRMONT — FUNancial Fest 2008 follows the credit union philosophy of “people helping people.”
Regional credit unions have come together to organize this new family event, scheduled for 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Valley Worlds of Fun in Fairmont. Fairmont Federal Credit Union, CWV TEL Federal Credit Union, Hope Federal Credit Union and West Virginia Central Credit Union are the sponsors.
Shelly Fluharty, vice president of marketing for Fairmont Federal Credit Union, came up with the idea for FUNancial Fest, and it has “just kept growing.” She said the event couldn’t have been made possible without the help of the other credit unions.
“We hope that we can make it an ongoing annual event ... maybe someday make it statewide,” Fluharty said.
FUNancial Fest, which is open to the general public, is an opportunity for the local credit unions to reach out and give back to the communities that they service, she said. During the event, kids and parents can enjoy the many attractions and activities that Valley Worlds of Fun has to offer while also gaining financial education.
“It could be fun for everybody,” she said. “It’s like a mini-vacation (to) get families together.”
FUNancial Fest will feature several vendors, including AmberView, the SMART529 college savings plan and Enterprise Rent-A-Car. The FBI will fingerprint children for free, and people are invited to shred documents using a secure document disposal service. Also, Grant Town Police Chief Matthew Biggie and the town’s police dog, Czar, will do a drug search demonstration.
Seminars will be held throughout the day on a number of financial topics, such as how to buy a home, teaching children how to save, improving credit scores, identity theft, and budgeting and saving.
Visitors will have the opportunity to win prizes like a Nintendo Wii, a GPS navigation system, iPods and iTunes gift cards, gas cards and bicycles.
A FUNancial Fest Pass is $14 for adults and $9.25 for children 5 and under. The event also includes free food and a live disc jockey. Special offers will be available on credit union consumer loan coupons and certificate coupons.
Fluharty said many people don’t understand the benefits of credit unions and don’t know the eligibility requirements. At FUNancial Fest, people can find out about credit unions and learn how they can join one.
“Really there are so many misconceptions about the credit union industry in general,” she said.
“You have to share a common bond in a credit union to share that membership. But because of our name, many people have misconceptions that you have to be a federal employee, a union worker, or that you need credit. They don’t realize that we’re a notfor- profit financial cooperative.”
Shelly Fluharty, vice president of marketing for Fairmont Federal Credit Union, came up with the idea for FUNancial Fest, and it has “just kept growing.” She said the event couldn’t have been made possible without the help of the other credit unions.
“We hope that we can make it an ongoing annual event ... maybe someday make it statewide,” Fluharty said.
FUNancial Fest, which is open to the general public, is an opportunity for the local credit unions to reach out and give back to the communities that they service, she said. During the event, kids and parents can enjoy the many attractions and activities that Valley Worlds of Fun has to offer while also gaining financial education.
“It could be fun for everybody,” she said. “It’s like a mini-vacation (to) get families together.”
FUNancial Fest will feature several vendors, including AmberView, the SMART529 college savings plan and Enterprise Rent-A-Car. The FBI will fingerprint children for free, and people are invited to shred documents using a secure document disposal service. Also, Grant Town Police Chief Matthew Biggie and the town’s police dog, Czar, will do a drug search demonstration.
Seminars will be held throughout the day on a number of financial topics, such as how to buy a home, teaching children how to save, improving credit scores, identity theft, and budgeting and saving.
Visitors will have the opportunity to win prizes like a Nintendo Wii, a GPS navigation system, iPods and iTunes gift cards, gas cards and bicycles.
A FUNancial Fest Pass is $14 for adults and $9.25 for children 5 and under. The event also includes free food and a live disc jockey. Special offers will be available on credit union consumer loan coupons and certificate coupons.
Fluharty said many people don’t understand the benefits of credit unions and don’t know the eligibility requirements. At FUNancial Fest, people can find out about credit unions and learn how they can join one.
“Really there are so many misconceptions about the credit union industry in general,” she said.
“You have to share a common bond in a credit union to share that membership. But because of our name, many people have misconceptions that you have to be a federal employee, a union worker, or that you need credit. They don’t realize that we’re a notfor- profit financial cooperative.”
Marketing Genius from Maple Creative: “FUNancial Fest 2008: Walking the Walk”
For over a year, Maple Creative has had the opportunity to work with one of North-Central West Virginia's most innovative (and talent-filled) organizations: Fairmont Federal Credit Union. The partnership has produced many exciting results: new branding (logo, positioning statement), new Web site (http://www.fairmontfcu.com) and ongoing advertising and public relations consulting, just to name a few.
A goal throughout has been credit union education, i.e. debunking myths, highlighting the contrasts between the not-for-profit credit unions and corporate banks that often pander more to stockholders than their customers and emphasizing the national credit union philosophy of, "People Helping People." This philosophy was the bedrock for an event held last Saturday - FUNancial Fest 2008.
Fairmont Federal Credit Union (FFCU), and four other regional credit unions in North-Central, WV, combined their resources for this day of fun, prizes and financial learning opportunities for the local community, held at Valley Worlds of Fun in Fairmont. To list all of the prizes and activities available Saturday would put even the most dedicated Marketing Genius into a coma, but judging from the turnout - around 500 attendees from young to old, not to mention the smiling faces - the event was a huge success. As a "qusai outsider" to the credit union world, FUNancial Fest 2008 had their organizational values written all over it: local, personalized, friendly, in addition to the will and ability to go above and beyond.
The organizers had a simple goal: provide the local community with a fun-filled and affordable (have you stood at a gas pump lately?) "mini-vacation" while simultaneously exposing them to the benefits of credit union membership. I'm willing to bet that the 20-something, non-credit union member, mother-of-three - who incidentally won over $350 during her time in a Money Machine - has asked herself, "What has my bank done for me lately?" plenty of times since Saturday.
Score one for Fairmont Federal Credit Union and their partners. Saturday, they showed they could walk the walk.
A goal throughout has been credit union education, i.e. debunking myths, highlighting the contrasts between the not-for-profit credit unions and corporate banks that often pander more to stockholders than their customers and emphasizing the national credit union philosophy of, "People Helping People." This philosophy was the bedrock for an event held last Saturday - FUNancial Fest 2008.
Fairmont Federal Credit Union (FFCU), and four other regional credit unions in North-Central, WV, combined their resources for this day of fun, prizes and financial learning opportunities for the local community, held at Valley Worlds of Fun in Fairmont. To list all of the prizes and activities available Saturday would put even the most dedicated Marketing Genius into a coma, but judging from the turnout - around 500 attendees from young to old, not to mention the smiling faces - the event was a huge success. As a "qusai outsider" to the credit union world, FUNancial Fest 2008 had their organizational values written all over it: local, personalized, friendly, in addition to the will and ability to go above and beyond.
The organizers had a simple goal: provide the local community with a fun-filled and affordable (have you stood at a gas pump lately?) "mini-vacation" while simultaneously exposing them to the benefits of credit union membership. I'm willing to bet that the 20-something, non-credit union member, mother-of-three - who incidentally won over $350 during her time in a Money Machine - has asked herself, "What has my bank done for me lately?" plenty of times since Saturday.
Score one for Fairmont Federal Credit Union and their partners. Saturday, they showed they could walk the walk.