Virginia Beach, VA & Houston, TX, January 24, 2008

Press Contact:
Liz McNulty
Chartway Federal Credit Union    
757-551-1000 x43699        
cemcnulty@chartway.com

Members of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of the Texas Gulf Coast & Louisiana were honored on Thursday, January 24th with a $40,000 grant presented by We Promise Foundation^® Chairman, Phil Richards.  As Chartway Federal Credit Union’s charitable arm, the We Promise Foundation^® raises money to benefit children’s charities within the communities served by the credit union.  Since 1999, Chartway and its foundation have raised more than $1.6M to help children throughout the country ~ raising nearly $420,000 last year alone. 

The Houston area holds the second-largest concentration of Chartway membership; and Chartway’s President & CEO, Ron Burniske, holds a position on their local Make-A-Wish Chapter’s Board of Directors.  He says, “It is a true privilege to serve on their Board because I have seen first-hand the power of making a wish come true, and am committed to making a difference for these children who face adversity with courage and strength.”

The Make-A-Wish Foundation is the nation’s largest wish-granting organization. Since 1980 they have remained dedicated to providing hope, strength and joy to children with life-threatening medical conditions. From humble beginnings with one boy’s wish to be a police officer, they have evolved into an organization that grants a child’s wish in the U.S. every 41 minutes.   The Texas Gulf Coast & Louisiana Chapter was founded in 1984 and has granted over 4,300 wishes.  Teri Andrepont, the President & CEO of the Texas Gulf Coast & Louisiana Chapter, speaks to the importance of grants such as the one received from Chartway, saying, “We simply could not make wishes come true without the support of people and companies like Chartway.  Their contribution will give hope and bring great joy to many heroic children and their families!”
 
Chartway and We Promise share the same passion to help children and are dedicated to putting a smile on a child’s face by making their dream come true.  “We have always held a strong commitment to helping children” says We Promise Foundation® Chairman, Phil Richards, “and we are delighted to be able to provide our financial support to other communities who really need our help.”

“Watching a child learn that their dream will come true is priceless” says Burniske.  “We are just happy that we can do something to make that magical moment a reality.”

Chartway Federal Credit Union, chartered in 1959, is a not-for-profit financial institution headquartered in Virginia Beach, Va., with assets of more than $1 billion.  Founded on the credit union philosophy of “People Helping People,” Chartway’s fundamental goal continues to be to enhance the lives and financial stability of its 156,000 members.  The organization provides services in Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Rhode Island, Texas and Virginia.  Chartway offers financial services including checking and savings accounts, loans, credit cards, online banking, insurance and investment counseling to members.  For more information, visit www.chartway.com.