America First Credit Union Give Back Program on KTNV’s Morning Blend Rewards and Recognizes Community ‘Super Heroes’

Monthly Morning News Feature on Channel 13 Requesting Nominations


LAS VEGAS – February 8, 2012 – America First Credit Union (AFCU) and The Morning Blend on KTNV are partners in honoring people who endlessly support their community with the America First Give Back awards program.

A special monthly segment of the morning broadcast will feature an interview with an award recipient. Award honorees are selected from the nominations submitted through the contest Web page: http://www.vegasmorningblend.com/contests/137291893.html. A $500 donation is presented to the Give Back recipients during the broadcast for their outstanding efforts in their community.

“The support for the Give Back award is a great addition to the many ways our members show their appreciation to people who are doing great things,” said John Lund, executive vice president. “We are very grateful to The Morning Blend and KTNV for helping us recognize the recipients in such a deserving manner. Every day we are working to not only support the financial security of our members, but their overall well-being and our communities.”

In January, Patrina McDonald-Green, who created the Hands of Comfort Foundation, was the first to receive the America First Give Back recognition.

“When I arrived at The Morning Blend, I was expecting the America First Give Back to be for my organization, Hands of Comfort Foundation,” said McDonald-Green. “To my surprise, it was to honor me. I was overwhelmed, excited, and grateful for the recognition given by America First and KTNV. Thank you for choosing me and for implementing this wonderful way to honor all of the real-life super heroes in our community.”

On January 6, 2010, McDonald-Green’s husband committed suicide and that same day she found out she was pregnant with their fourth child. While dealing and working toward healing, and not wanting to let the crisis define their future, she and her children established the Hands of Comfort Foundation.

Realizing that her husband had been overwhelmed due to financial and other stressors, McDonald-Green decided the foundation’s mission would be committed to helping individuals emerge from crisis and trauma through a process of intervention, education and support that empowers individuals to positively transform their lives. For more information about current and future services of the foundation, she asks people to visit www.handsofcomfortfoundation.org.

“Channel 13 and The Morning Blend are proud that America First Credit Union chose to be our partner on this great project,” said Jim Koonce, KTNV-TV promotion and marketing manager. “We’re pleased to have this opportunity to recognize individuals who give back to our community and make Las Vegas a better place to live.”

America First has eight locations in Clark County:
• Henderson—370 N Stephanie Street
• Las Vegas Montecito Smiths—7130 N Durango Drive
• Las Vegas Renaissance—3310 E Flamingo Road
• Las Vegas Sahara—3846 W Sahara Avenue
• Las Vegas Shadow Creek Smiths—2255 E Centennial Parkway
• Las Vegas Tenaya—2699 N Tenaya Way
• Mesquite—590 West Mesquite Boulevard
• Mesquite Wal-Mart—1120 West Pioneer Boulevard

ABOUT AMERICA FIRST
America First Credit Union was founded at Fort Douglas in Salt Lake City on March 16, 1939 by a small group of people determined to form their own cooperative to promote their collective economic well-being. In its 72-year history, America First has become one of the largest, most stable and most progressive credit unions in the country, and has remained a member-owned, not-for-profit cooperative financial institution. Today, America First has 101 branches, and is the 11th largest credit union in assets in the United States with over $5 billion, and the 7th largest credit union in membership in America with more than 540,000 members. Visit www.americafirst.com.
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