Freedom Staff Volunteer for Fun

Volunteer Day Full of Fall Events

Freedom personnel volunteered at the Harford Center on October 5. Staff helped adults with disabilities and special needs participate in fun activities at Beachmont Christian Ministries. Great fall events included ball tossing, corn hole, a picnic, hay ride, and a walk through the corn maze.

The theme of this year’s corn maze — aMAZEing Comic Super Heroes — added another element of fun to the beautiful day’s agenda. A big comic book fan, our CEO, Michael MacPherson, led the group and especially enjoyed posing with the super heroes on hand for the event.

A big push for Freedom has been “giving back” to the community. Staff are encouraged to volunteer for charitable efforts throughout Harford County. Some of this year’s other volunteer activities include assembling food forUnited Way clients, assisting riders at Normandy Farms, and demolishing a rehab house with Habitat for Humanity of the Susquehanna.

We Won — We’re Honored!

Freedom Claims the Harford Award — Retail Category

This YEAR’s Ceremony

The Chamber announced the awards Thursday, September 22. The County Council; County Executive Barry Glassman, and Congressman Andy Harris, U.S. House of Representatives, attended the ceremony at Water’s Edge Event Center. Mr. Glassman said “Your commitment to Harford County and our citizens is invaluable. We extend to you our heartfelt wishes for continued success.”

The chamber showed a video before each Award. Freedom’s showcased our growth and community outreach. Freedom President and CEO Michael MacPherson and Board Chairman Mike Kaiser accepted the award.

Harford Cable TV Network will televise the Harford Award ceremony. The event will also appear on Armstrong, Comcast and Verizon cable networks.

The Harford Awards

Winners in each of the Award’s six categories show exemplary service to the community. A local business sponsors each nominee. Local auto dealer Jones Junction sponsored our entry this year.

Other award winners include:

Entrepreneur Category — Altus Engineering
Service Category — BCS America, Bel Air Auto Auction Center
R&D/Technology/Manufacturing & Distribution Category — Chesapeake Testing
Non-Profit Category — The Kaufman Cancer Center
Hospitality/Tourism Category — Ladew Topiary Gardens

Thanks to the Harford County Chamber of Commerce for honoring us with this great award. We strive to continue the work that earned it.

Experience the Credit Union Difference

See What Makes Freedom a Special Credit Union

International Credit Union Day Pumpkin Contest — **Join us October 20, International Credit Union Day, for special activities at all five of our locations!**

Freedom Federal Credit Union has served the APG community since 1956. We continue our proud service to the military community to this day. What makes Freedom so special?

Not-for-Profit — Freedom, like all credit unions, is not-for-profit.

Member-Owned — All of our members own Freedom, not an elite group of shareholders.

People Helping People — Freedom exists to serve our members and the local community. We supported the Harford County community with more than $100,000 in sponsorships, donations and special programs in the last year. Our staff volunteers their time to meet local needs.

Democratic, Volunteer-Run—Knowledgeable volunteers make up Freedom’s Board of Directors and other committees who work with Freedom’s professional management.

Financial Education — Freedom provides free financial education to every Harford County school. We also offer online materials and Youth Club programs to help teach kids about money.

Trust — Freedom members can trust that we place their needs first.

Visit our branch at the Edgewood Area of APG, or any of our four other Harford County locations.

Isn’t it time you belonged to something special? Join Freedom now!

Hope In Handbags Event A Success — Thanks!

8th Annual Event Harford Family House’s Best Ever!

The Harford Family House announced that last weekend’s “Hope in Handbags” purse auction event was very successful.

Thanks to everyone at Freedom who helped — members, employees and volunteers! Special thanks to Freedom employees Alicia Bowman, Patrice Ricciardi, Rachel Schmidt, Andrea Woodard, and especially Tony Sjolie for contributing to the success of this special event.

This year’s 8th annual event raised over $28,000, after expenses just short of $26,000. This money will provide 1,040 nights of shelter for local families.

To learn more about the Harford Family House and their mission, visit their web site, http://harfordfamilyhouse.org/.

Freedom Employees Get Destructive

Staff Complete Habitat for Humanity Demolition

On a hot August day, nine Freedom staffers joined Habitat for Humanity Susquehanna to help their community and burn off some energy. Habitat staffer Bill Schmidt began the day by explaining Habitat’s mission and methodology. The home project, located in Edgewood, required staffers to clear out trash and debris, remove doors and trim, pull up carpet—whatever it took to create a clean slate for renovation inside and out.

As the day’s temperature soared, kitchen cabinets were demolished and floors ripped up. A load of recyclable metal and reusable items was assembled and loaded onto Habitat trailers. A large dumpster was filled and hauled away. And a sweaty, tired bunch of employees was ready to head home for a shower! The dirty work was all to help local residents buy safe, affordable housing in our area. It was a gratifying experience for the volunteers.

You, too, can support Habitat for Humanity Susquehanna. Go online to Habitat for Humanity Susquehanna’s web site to see what it’s all about and become a volunteer. Or simply buy discounted building supplies, appliances, antiques and more from Habitat’s new ReStore location in Aberdeen.

Freedom employees who volunteered for a Habitat for Humanity Susquehanna demolition project in August, 2016 — **Freedom volunteers from left:** Andrea Woodard; Keith Gill; Marcus Johnson; Kati Grasmick; Bob Wehland; Jeff Herman; Habitat for Humanity staff member Bill Schmidt; Susan Tannahill; Rachel Schmidt; Kelly Berends

Bob Wehland and Keith Gill working at a local a Habitat for Humanity demolition project — **From left:** Bob Wehland, VP of Business Banking and Keith Gill, CFO

Freedom staffers Kati Grasmick and Andrea Woodard working — **From left:** Andrea Woodard, Member Services Call Center Representative, Edgewood branch, and Kati Grasmick, Financial Services Representative, Forest Lakes branch

Kids’ Cents Segment Now Live on YouTube

Segment Features Our Kids’ Art Calendar Contest Winners

Freedom’s Kids’ Art Calendar is complete. Watch the latest Kids’ Cents segment for interviews with some of the young artists!

Kids’ Art calendars are in all branches beginning October first. Calendars are free to members, but please consider supporting local children with a donation. Benefits from the Kids’ Art Calendar go to Harford County’s Greater Excellence in Education Foundation, or GEEF.

The TV Show

Kids’ Cents is part of a monthly Harford Cable News Network show for young viewers. Freedom sponsors Kids’ Cents as part of our commitment to financial education for individuals of all ages.

Check out our YouTube channel for more financial education resources. The Freedom YouTube channel also features past Kids’ Cents episodes.

Back-to-School Supplies Collection Drive

Donate at any Freedom Branch to Help Local Students

Please help students receive needed school supplies by dropping off your donated items at any Freedom branch through August 29. All donations support students in Harford County through the Greater Excellence in Education Foundation’s Stuff the Bus School Supply Campaign.

♦ Pencils ♦ Markers ♦ Glue Sticks ♦ Compasses ♦ Pocket Folders ♦ Protractors ♦ Highlighters ♦ Index Cards
♦Dry Erase Markers ♦ Colored Pencils ♦ USB Drives ♦ Tissues ♦ Ziploc bags ♦ Erasers ♦ Pencil Cases
♦ Composition Notebooks ♦ 3 Hole Binders ♦ Scissors ♦ Loose Leaf Paper ♦ Binder Pencil Pouches
♦ Backpacks ♦ White Glue ♦ Graphing Calculators ♦ Crayons

Learn more about the Greater Excellence in Education Foundation (GEEF) online.

Freedom Staff Assist Therapeutic Riding Program

Love of Kids — and Horses — Prompts Saturday Volunteerism

Six Freedom staffers responded to the opportunity to assist at Normandy Farms Therapeutic Riding program. Designed for disabled children, the program gives people of all abilities the chance to enjoy horseback riding.

Freedom’s volunteers were able to help in a variety of ways, from brushing horses and cleaning out stalls to assisting riders in the ring.

It was a beautiful day, well spent!