By: Lena

Lena @ 3:18 pm

The Martin Luther King (MLK) Senior High School Marching Crusaders has officially raised the $380,000 they needed to travel to Beijing, China to play during the 2008 Summer Olympics. In early March, Michigan First and its Board of Directors jumpstarted, a community wide effort to help the school raise money for the trip, by making a $10,000 donation to the band and its director, Victoria Miller. The Credit Union also set up a fund for the band so donations could be made at any Michigan First branch.
In addition to Michigan First’s donation, other large donations were made by Gov. Jennifer Granholm, the UAW, The Skillman Foundation, The Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, The Kresge Foundation, The Detroit Lions, and GMAC, just to name a few. Donations were also made by church groups, individuals, block clubs, small and large businesses, and schools. And now, one of the best high school bands in the United States will get a chance to show the world how good they are when they play at the Olympics in August.

Detroit Lions offensive lineman Edwin Mulitalo (3rd from left) gave the band’s fundraising efforts a big boost with a $10,000 donation from his “Big Ed’s Band Foundation” which supports the development of music programs for children. Also on hand to present the check were (left to right) To’alima, Mulitalo’s daughter; Sandra Tomlin, Vice President, Marketing & Public Relations, Michigan First; three MLK student band members; Victoria Miller, band director; and Detroit Lion Jonathan Scott. After the check presentation, Mulitalo played his ukulele while his daughter To’alima performed a special dance for the band.

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By: Lena

Lena @ 2:51 pm

Michigan First Credit Union awarded $1,000 one-time, non-renewable scholarships to 86 local high school students as part of its Scholarship Program. The graduating seniors represent some of the new communities that Michigan First now serves. In the past five years, the Credit Union has awarded 245 scholarships totaling more than $219,000.

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By: Lena

Lena @ 2:42 pm

Crescent Academy started out with a bang on October 5th, 2007 opening 38 new accounts with over $600.00 in deposits. Twelve student employees will maintain the branch which will be located in the Library. The branch will be open every Friday morning.

Michigan First Credit Union and Southfield Public Schools have partnered to provide deposit transactions in the following student-run branches at:

Morris Adler Elementary (19100 Filmore Street, Southfield, MI)

Adler Stevenson Elementary (27777 Lahser Road, Southfield, MI)

Alice Birney Middle School (27225 Evergreen Road, Southfield, MI)

Brace Lederle School (18575 W. 9 Mile, Southfield, MI)

Crescent Academy (17570 West 12 Mile, Southfield, MI)

Laurus Academy (24590 Lahser Road, Southfield, MI)

Leonhard Elementary (20900 Independence, Southfield, MI)

Levey Middle School (25300 W. 9 Mile, Southfield, MI)

MacArthur Academy University (24501 Frederick, Southfield, MI)

McIntyre Elementary (19600 Saratoga, Southfield, MI)

Stevenson Elementary (27777 Lahser Road, Southfield, MI)

Southfield High School (24675 Lahser Road, Southfield, MI)

University Prep (600 Antoinette, Detroit, MI)

Southfield-Lathrup High School (19301 West 12 Mile Rd., Southfield, MI)

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By: Lena

Lena @ 12:17 pm

Forty-three local high school students have been awarded a $750, one-time scholarship from Michigan First Credit Union.  As part of Michigan First’s commitment to education and community involvement, the recipients represent several school districts within Michigan First’s field of membership. The graduating seniors are members of Michigan First Credit Union. “In 2002, we developed the scholarship program as part of our commitment to the educators, students and alumni that we serve through the many school districts in our field of membership,” commented Michael D. Poulos, President & CEO, Michigan First. “In the last three years, we have awarded over 75 scholarships that we hope gives a helping hand to deserving students.”  Winners were selected based on scholarship, involvement in extracurricular activities that demonstrate a special talent, leadership skills and social responsibility. Awarded scholarships are applied to the student’s first year of college.  Applicants had to be a member of Michigan First Credit Union, graduate high school by August 2005 and have a GPA of 2.8 or higher. Each recipient completed an application form, furnished official copies of his/her high school transcript, submitted an acceptance letter from an accredited college or university and provided two letters of recommendation from a school representative, clergy, community or civic person.”

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By: Lena

Lena @ 12:37 pm

Michigan First Credit Union recently helped seven Southfield elementary and middle schools celebrate their achievements in operating their student branches, with a pancake breakfast and awards ceremony. The program is held annually at the end of the school year to recognize the students’ accomplishments and to congratulate them on the money they deposited into their savings accounts through the program. It is also a time to recognize the school that opened the most new accounts and had the most deposit dollars.

This year, Stevenson Elementary School won the award for the most new accounts opened as well as the most in deposit dollars, as they recruited 54 new accounts and collected over $16,000 in student deposits. Overall, the seven schools generated over $39,000 in student deposits with an additional $2,500 from the 160 new accounts that were opened.

Prior to the breakfast and awards ceremony, students were challenged to memorize the Mission, Vision and Core Value Statement of the Credit Union. This year’s challenge winner was Jennifer Wardell of Leonhard Elementary, who recited the statement in front of all the attendees. Jennifer was presented with a Beanie Baby and gift card. After the breakfast, students received a tour of the offices in the Michigan First headquarters.

Students participating in the program hold various positions including Branch Managers, Assistant Managers, Tellers, Computer Operators, Bookkeepers and Greeters. This year, over 140 students applied for these positions. On school banking days, which are supervised by Michigan First employees, students wear Michigan First logo shirts and name badges.

The schools and principals participating in the Credit Union’s student-run branch program include Alder Elementary, Janet Jones, Principal; Birney Middle School, Sterling Russell, Principal; Brace-Lederle K-8 School, Andrea Hamlar, Principal; Laurus Academy, Raul Calderon, Principal; Leonhard Elementary, Vicki Perry, Principal; McIntyre Elementary, Greg Kubasiewicz, Principal; and Stevenson Elementary, Dr. B. K. Hentrel, Principal.

Since the Michigan First Student Branch Program began in 2001, it has had great success. Michael Poulos, President/CEO of Michigan First states, “The success of the program is due to building solid educational partnerships and assisting schools in our field of membership with educating young people about the benefits of credit union membership and how to save and manage money.”

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By: Lena

Lena @ 1:58 pm

In March 2007, Michigan First Credit Union featured the artwork of 4th grade students from Helen McIntyre Elementary School at its Evergreen Branch in Lathrup Village. The idea for the student’s exhibition, titled “Jazz, Showing its Roots: Tribute to Ed Bradley and Jacob Lawrence,” was spearheaded by Delores A. Flagg, Art Teacher/Coordinator, McIntyre Elementary School. According to Flagg, the purpose of the project was to give students a chance to study and understand the history of African American art, its influences, and the connection to their own lives. “In celebration of Black History Month, McIntyre Elementary School students created artwork to give tribute to Ed Bradley, the late African American journalist and 60 Minutes and CBS News correspondent, and to Jacob Lawrence, renowned African American artist and humanitarian,” explained Flagg. Flagg said the motivation for the exhibit was Ed Bradley, who loved the visual and performing arts. “He believed the arts enhanced every part of our lives,” said Flagg. “Through images, shapes, colors and the colorful paintings of Jacob Lawrence, the students created their own expressions of jazz musicians, their lives and music.” 

Most recently, McIntyre Elementary School had the opportunity to showcase its exhibit at the Detroit Opera House Black History Month celebration of the Jacob Lawrence Project and the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, “Colorography.” “We took pride in being able to showcase our student’s artwork beyond the boundaries of the classroom to the community,” said Flagg.

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