Community

Freedom’s support of and activity in the Harford County, MD community.

39th Annual Military Appreciation Luncheon

As the Premier Sponsor of the 39th Annual Military Appreciation Luncheon, Freedom understands the importance of honoring those who serve in the United States Armed Forces and the families who support them. Thank you for your devotion and service.

The event expressed gratitude to all veterans, including those who have served in the Vietnam War. This marks the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War. In honor of the anniversary, Maryland Public Television will be showing “Maryland Vietnam War Stories” premiering in three parts, May 24; 25; and 26 at 8pm. See program details here.

An LZ (landing zone) Maryland event will be held at the Maryland State Fairgrounds, June 18-19 in honor of our Vietnam Veterans. The event includes a Tribute Ceremony, Honor Ride, Aircraft and Motor Pool Displays, Veteran Art Gallery, and much more. See full event details.

Freedom has a long history of serving military members and their families, dating to 1953. We are proud to continue that service!

Charity Calendar Contest Brings Out Artist in Young Members

Kids 2017 Calendar Art Contest

Freedom is having a Kids’ Art Calendar contest to benefit the Greater Excellence in Education Foundation (GEEF)!

Enter your kid’s artwork by June 1, 2016 for a chance to have it published in our 2017 calendar. Each entry chosen for the calendar will win a great prize! To participate, kids must be a Freedom Youth Club Member.

“People Helping People”
Kids are asked to use the theme of “People Helping People” in their artwork. Demonstrate how Freedom achieves its mission of giving back to the community, or how we encourage members to meet their financial goals. Calendars will be available for free at our branches, although members will be asked to make a donation to GEEF in support of their annual school supply drive.

Artists Aged 4 – 17 Are Eligible to Enter
The three age groupings are: 4 – 7, 8 – 12, 13 – 17.
Twelve calendar entries will be chosen, one for each month, and four from each age group. Entries will be judged by a panel of Freedom employees, board members and volunteers. Winning artists chosen from the 4 – 7 age group will win a Nabi tablet; those from the 8 – 12 and 13 – 17 age groups will win a Kindle Fire.

In addition to the prizes for artwork chosen, three $50 drawing prizes will be awarded, one from each age group. Please see Contest Instructions and full Sweepstakes Rules. The Permission to Use Art form must be submitted with artwork, and is available online or in branches.

 

Youth-Month-Calendar-Image

 

 

Patriot Program Rewards Civic Knowledge and Patriotism

Civics Program Support Now Reaching 24 Local Schools

We understand the importance of informed, active citizens. To this end, the Patriot Programs offered by many of Harford County’s public schools help students learn about their country. Each school’s program is voluntary, teaching national and state geographic facts, patriotism, and our history. The Patriot Program grows students’ sense of citizenship and pride in our shared American heritage.

For years we have underwritten the materials used to reward Patriot Program graduates. We have added several schools over the last few years, and our support now extends to 24 Harford County schools! Schools supported include the following:

  • Bakerfield Elementary
  • Bel Air elementary
  • Church Creek Elementary
  • Churchville Elementary
  • Dublin Elementary
  • Edgewood Elementary
  • Emmorton Elementary
  • Forest Hill
  • Forest Lakes Elementary
  • Fountain Green
  • Havre De Grace Elementary
  • Hickory Elementary
  • Homestead Wakefield Elementary
  • Joppatowne Elementary
  • Meadowvale Elementary
  • Norrisville Elementary
  • North Harford Elementary
  • Prospect Mill Elementary
  • Red Pump Elementary
  • Ring Factory Elementary
  • Roye Williams Elementary
  • William Paca Elementary
  • William S James Elementary
  • Youth Benefit Elementary

We look forward to continuing and growing our support of this great program in 2017. If you would like to discuss support for your school’s Patriot Program, please contact our Marketing Department, at marketing@freedomfcu.org.

 

Freedom’s Susan Manning a 2016 Athena Award Finalist

Freedom Business Development Specialist a 2016 ATHENA Leadership Award Finalist

We are proud to announce that Susan Manning-Bresuciak, Business Development Specialist, is a finalist for this year’s ATHENA Award.Sue Manning, 2016 ATHENA Award Finalist

For the past 14 years, Harford County has presented the ATHENA Leadership Award to an exemplary female leader in the community. This year’s award ceremony is on March 4. ATHENA Award nominees must be —

  • A person who has achieved excellence, creativity and initiative in their business or profession
  • Someone who has served the community to improve the quality of life of others
  • A woman who has actively helped other women to achieve their full professional leadership potential

Ms. Manning-Bresuciak, known as Sue, is very active in the community, serving as president of the Southern Harford County Rotary, and recently  serving a three-year term as Treasurer for the Women In Defense. She has also been appointed to the Harford County Women’s Commission, and serves on the Board of Directors for the Aberdeen Chamber of Commerce, the Northeastern Maryland Technical Council, and the Foundation for the Arc of Northern Chesapeake.

Sue has been with Freedom since 2012, serving as a Business Development Specialist focusing on the Aberdeen Proving Ground and businesses in the Route 40/I-95 corridor. She has been instrumental in providing Freedom’s  financial education programs to military and civilian employees at APG, as well as the Harford County Chamber of Commerce’s military appreciation efforts. Sue has also been key to the development of special programs for Harford County Association of REALTORS.

Join us in congratulating Sue on this tremendous honor!

Military Support

Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG) and other Military Support

Freedom has provided 63 years of support to military members, as well as civilian employees of the Department of Defense, their families and retirees.

We’re a tenant organization at the Edgewood Area of Aberdeen Proving Ground and have operated a full service branch office there since 1956. Our branch at 5002 Hoadley Road, offers a drive-up ATM, drive-up teller, and convenient lobby hours. New memberships, savings accounts, checking accounts, and other member services are available in-person, online at www.freedomfcu.org, or by calling 800-440-4120, our 24/7/365 Contact Center.

Sponsorships, Memberships and Participation:

  • APG Military Appreciation Week – Multiple year sponsorship through HCCC
  • APG Morale Welfare Recreation (MWR)
  • APG Army Community Services
  • APG Retiree Day sponsor
  • APG Safety Day participant
  • Army Alliance
  • Association of United States Army (AUSA)
  • Fisher House
  • Military Saves Week
  • Northeastern Maryland Technology Council (NMTC)
  • “O” Day Picnic sponsorship

Financial education programs:

  • Basic Budgeting
  • Thrifty and Wise Use of Credit
  • Identity Theft
  • How to Buy a Car
  • How to Buy a Home
  • How to Sell a Home

Scholarships:

  • CU Foundation of MD/DC annual scholarship competition
  • Freestate ChalleNGe Academy scholarships
  • Harford County Chamber of Commerce scholarship support
  • Harford Community College annual scholarship for Freedom member
  • Women in Defense – Multiple sponsorships

Supporting Local Hospital Charitable Foundations

Freedom is a long-time partner of the University of Maryland’s Upper Chesapeake Medical Center and Harford Memorial Hospital. We’ve been the Credit Union for these two local hospitals for 42 years! Our partnership includes annual support of these organizations’ charitable Foundations.

Programs, campaigns, and events that we support each year include:

  • The Patricia D. and M. Scot Kaufman Cancer Center and its Cancer LifeNet program, which provides navigational and support services to cancer patients in our community.
  • The Senator Bob Hooper House
  • the “Little Things Matter” campaign of the Children’s Center at University of Maryland Upper Chesapeake Medical Center that raises funds to decorate the patient rooms with original art work and provide age appropriate interactive art.
  • the Red Pump Ball
  • Cruise for a Cause
  • Starnight Gala
  • Chesapeake Challenge golf and tennis fundraiser
  • Chesapeake Regatta
  • Adam Thompson Run