MIT Federal Credit Union embraces the Read with Malcolm initiative

On Jan. 31, MIT Federal Credit Union (MIT FCU) President and CEO Brian Ducharme delivered 40 copies of “The Magician’s Hat,” a children’s picture book written by New England Patriots wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell, to the first graders of Morse Elementary School in Cambridge, Massachusetts. After reading this story aloud to his excited audience of early readers, Ducharme handed out books so each child might take a copy home.

The MIT Federal Credit Union is a proud sponsor of Credit Unions Kids at Heart, a Massachusetts-based charitable organization and partner in the Share the Magic Foundation’s Read with Malcolm initiative. One of the largest credit union collaborative public service initiatives in the nation, Credit Unions Kids at Heart has since 1996 raised funds for Boston Children’s Hospital’s research activities aimed at the prevention, treatment, and/or cure of pediatric neurological diseases.

In 2017, as an extension of its mission to help children lead healthy, happy lives, Credit Unions Kids at Heart embraced the Read with Malcolm initiative, a youth literacy program of Malcolm Mitchell’s Share the Magic Foundation. The Share the Magic Foundation works to promote the long-term benefits of reading and book ownership among students in Title I schools and underserved communities. With the support of a select number of its own participating credit unions, including MIT FCU, Credit Unions Kids at Heart has donated hundreds of copies of Mitchell’s book to the first grade classes of eligible area schools.

“It was fulfilling, on many levels, to be a part of this program. The Read with Malcolm initiative reminds us of the importance of putting books in the hands and homes of young children, and of providing those children with interesting, inspiring, and age-appropriate stories to read. These kids were spot on in their understanding of the message of ‘The Magician’s Hat,’ and genuinely appreciated being able to take home a copy of the book,” says Ducharme. “We are proud to participate in a community-driven program that supports children’s overall health, both physical and mental, through Credit Unions Kids at Heart and the Read with Malcolm initiative.”

The MIT Federal Credit Union was founded as a nonprofit financial institution in 1940 to provide basic financial services to employees at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Today, with assets in excess of $500,000 million, the Credit Union offers traditional savings and checking accounts as well as lending programs for mortgages, autos, personal and student loans. With locations and ATMs in Cambridge and Lexington, along with mobile and, online banking services, MIT Federal Credit Union serves the greater MIT-Kendall Square communities which includes employees of Novartis (Cambridge), Lincoln Laboratory, Draper, Whitehead Institute, The Broad Institute, Phillips, and Forsyth. MIT Federal Credit Union also serves MIT students (graduate and undergraduate) and alumni. MIT Federal Credit Union is a member-owned, cooperative financial institution whose primary mission is to provide quality financial services that meet the needs of its members while ensuring the financial well-being of the organization.

Jane Melchionda, president and CEO of Eastern Corporate Federal Credit Union of Burlington, Massachusetts, founded Credit Unions Kids at Heart in 1996 with a small group of Massachusetts credit unions. Since that time, the program has expanded nationally to include dozens of participating credit unions. The program and its team of dedicated supporters are presently committed to funding several pediatric research projects at Boston Children’s Hospital, including: moyamoya disease, Sturge-Weber syndrome, pediatric brain tumors, and cerebral palsy. In 2017, the Credit Unions Kids at Heart Team also embraced the Read with Malcolm initiative, a youth literacy program founded by New England Patriots wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell. Throughout the 2017 NFL season, the Credit Unions Kids at Heart Team will sponsor First Downs for First Graders and donate copies of Mitchell’s book, “The Magician’s Hat,” to many first graders within the cities and towns where credit unions are located.

de MIT News http://ift.tt/2nPQMZU