Desert Messenger

June 21, 2023 www.DesertMessenger.com 15 Look up at the stars and not down at your feet. Try to make sense of what you see, and wonder about what makes the universe exist. Be curious. ~ Stephen Hawking AFCU offers grants for nonprofits CORRECTION NOTICE In the article on Page 16 of May 17, 2023 edition of Desert Messenger News there was an error in the following statement, "Isaac Saxton and Phil Cushman, both Quartzsite Area Chamber of Commerce Board Members, collected signatures." It should have read, "Isaac Saxton, a Quartzsite Area Chamber of Com- merce Board Member collected signatures. Phil Cushman, also a Chamber Board member was a no- tory public which certifi ed the sig- natures." Desert Messenger News regrets the error. Arizona Financial Credit Union Continues Support for Hyper-Local Nonprofi ts through Local Causes Grants $40K in grants now available through credit union's debit card program PHOENIX, AZ – With a focus on strengthening communities, Arizona Financial Credit Union (AFCU) recently opened grant ap- plications to their Local Causes Vi- sa® debit card program to benefi t hyper-local nonprofi ts. Since its launch in August 2020, the pro- gram has provided over $150,000 to more than 60 unique nonprof- its, and with Arizona Financial's statewide expansion, organizations across Arizona are invited to apply. In this grant cycle, the credit union will be awarding $40,000 in total gifts to deserving nonprofi ts. "The growth of this program and the number of nonprofi ts we have been able to support far surpassed our expectations when creating Lo- cal Causes," said Amy Hysell, presi- dent and CEO of Arizona Financial. "We have learned so much about the nonprofi ts that make up the fabric of the communities we serve, all doing great work to serve specif- ic needs. For that we applaud them and are proud to be a small part of their greater purpose." Unique to this program, nonprofi t recipients must have an operating budget under $2M and meet criteria set forth by Arizona Financial with a focus on education, equality/social inclusion, community services, chil- dren and youth, and/or sustainabil- ity. Past recipients have credited the grant as a major boost contributing to expanding services and recognition. Past Local Causes recipient, Cas- sidy Porter of The Barnhouse AZ, said, "Arizona Financial's ability to reach down and recognize smaller nonprofi ts is quite remarkable. When it comes to the services we provide in the community, every single dollar matters, and for an or- ganization like Arizona Financial to recognize and reward the small im- pacts we make daily to bring about greater change in our community is humbling. To say thank you is not enough but thank you." The Local Causes Visa® debit card giveback program is one option of several programs Arizona Financial members can participate in when choosing their debit card. The credit union also facilitates similar initia- tives with Arizona Humane Society and the 100 Club of Arizona. Appli- cations are now open through June 30 with grant awards presented later this summer. For more infor- mation or to apply, please visit Ari- zona/Financial.org/Giveback. Arizona Financial is a $3.3 billion not-for-profi t fi nancial coopera- tive providing consumer and small business banking services and ex- pertise to more than 160,000 mem- ber/owners. Founded in Arizona in 1936, the credit union empowers members to take hold of their fi - nancial future through the delivery of leading-edge self-service tools and mobile apps, competitive rates on loans and deposits, robust home loan solutions, identity protection services, and SBA and commercial loans. Arizona Financial has a his- tory of local community involve- ment and is the sponsor of the Live Nation Theatre venue and exclusive credit union partner of the Phoenix Rising FC. The credit union has 20 locations across metro Phoenix and western Arizona and is part of the CO-OP network that provides mem- bers nationwide account access at 5,000 credit union branches and 30,000 ATMs. Deposits are feder- ally insured by the National Credit Union Administration. For more information: ArizonaFinancial.org. Thank you to Spiritstone Gems Market at 1210 W Main St. for your dona- tion of a forklift to the food bank. Our volunteers really appreciate not hav- ing to lift the hundreds of boxes off the truck by hand. Thank you again! Lois Dupre Friends of the Quartzsite Food Bank Food Bank thank you... Facebook.com/ DesertMessengerNews

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