Nov 1: Vancity Angel Tree Programs collect for needy children

Chilliwack, November 29, 2004 – Vancity Credit Union’s Chilliwack Community Branch, in partnership with Chilliwack Community Services, is sponsoring an Angel Tree program this holiday season.

The Angel Tree is a special Christmas Tree strung with paper angels. Each angel bears the name, age and wish of a needy Chilliwack child. Community members are asked to remove the decorations and purchase gifts based on the description on the ornament.

This is the first year that Vancity’s Chilliwack Branch has celebrated the season with an Angel Tree.

“It was a spur of the moment decision and despite having no time to advertise, we have already had over 65 angels taken from the tree. This is exciting news and shows the generousity of our members, but we have many more waiting to be taken to make this holiday special for local children,” says Frances Mack, Financial Services Co-ordinator at Vancity’s Chilliwack Community Branch. For details on the angel tree program, drop by the branch at 45617 Luckakuck Way or call 604-824-8300.

The Angel Tree will be up in the branch until Saturday, December 11th.

Victoria, November 17, 2004 – Vancity Credit Union’s Victoria Community Branch, in partnership with PEERS (Prostitutes Empowerment Education and Resource Society) and the Queen Alexandra Foundation for Children is sponsoring an Angel Tree program this holiday season.

The Angel Tree is a very special Christmas tree strung with paper angels decorated by the children from Quadra Elementary School. Each angel bears the name, age and wish of a local child who might otherwise not share in the joy of the holiday season.

The season will start with a special tree decorating party at the branch on Friday, November 19th, 1:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Members of the public are invited to join with local community organizations and branch staff in the launch of the gift-giving program. The Angel Tree will be up in the branch until Saturday, December 11th.

This is the second year that Vancity’s Victoria Community Branch has had an Angel Tree. In 2003, the Tree held over 75 angels, and thanks to the members and the people in the Community, every child received a Christmas present. For details on the decorating party or the the Angel Tree program, drop by the branch at 3075 Douglas Street or call the branch at 250-519-7423.

PEERS is a non-profit society established by ex-prostitutes and community supporters. They are dedicated to the empowerment, education and support of prostitutes. They assist individuals who desire to leave the sex industry and strive to increase public understanding.

The Queen Alexandra Foundation is a registered charity governed by a volunteer Board of Directors. With a history spanning nearly 80 years, the Foundation provides financial assistance for programs, equipment and services that support the health and well-being of Vancouver Island's children, youth and families.

Public invited to tree decorating event at Cedar Hills branch on Saturday, November 6, 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Surrey, November 3, 2004 – Vancity Credit Union is hoping to make the holiday season special for hundreds of needy children in Surrey this year with Angel Tree programs running in local branches.

The Angel Tree is a Christmas tree decorated with paper angels made by local elementary school children and Vancity staff. Each one bears the name, age and wish of a needy Surrey child. Vancity members and members of the public are invited to remove an angel from the tree and purchase a gift for the child based on the wish captured on the decoration.

There will be two Angel Tree programs running in Vancity branches in Surrey this year:

Cedar Hills Community Branch
Surrey Cedar Hills Community Branch is partnering with Surrey Women’s Centre Society and Kla-How-Eya Aboriginal Centre for its Angel Tree program, with the Angel Tree decorations being crafted by the students at Senator Reid Elementary School.To kick off this year’s initiative, the public are invited to join branch staff and various community partners for a tree decorating event at the branch at 12820 96th Avenue on Saturday, November 6 from 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. The program runs until Saturday, December 11. For more details contact the branch at 604-877-7443.

Surrey City Centre Community Branch
Vancity’s Surrey City Centre branch is partnering with the Whalley Family Place and Oak Avenue Neighbourhood Hub for its Angel Tree program that starts Friday, November 12 and runs until Wednesday, December 15. Visit the branch at 10293 King George Hwy or call 604-877-7323 for more information.

Public invited to tree decorating event November 6, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Port Coquitlam, November 2, 2004 – Vancity Credit Union’s Port Coquitlam Community Branch, in partnership with the Tri-Cities Area Woman’s Center, is sponsoring an Angel Tree program this holiday season.

The Angel Tree is a Christmas tree decorated with paper angels made by local elementary school children. Each one bears the age and wish of a Tri-Cities child who might not otherwise share in the joy of the holiday season.

The tree, decorated with angels made by students at Port Coqutlam James Park Elementary will be decking the halls of Vancity’s Port Coquitlam Community Branch from November 6, 2004 until December 14, 2004.

The season will kick off with a special visit from Santa Claus and Port Coquitlam Lion’s Club on November 6, 2004 from 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Members of the public are invited to join branch staff as well as representatives from the Tri-Cities Area Woman’s Center and members of the Port Coquitlam Lion’s Club for the official launch of this gift giving program.

This is the Seventh year the Port Coqutlam branch has celebrated the season with an Angel Tree program. For details on the decorating party or the the Angel Tree program at Vancity’s Port Coqutlam branch, please visit the location at 7100–2850 Shaughnessy Street, in Port Coquitlam or call Vancity at 604-877-7333.

Public invited to tree decorating event November 4, 9:30 a.m.

Abbotsford, November 1, 2004 – Vancity Credit Union’s Abbotsford Community Branch, in partnership with Abbotsford Community Services, Abbotsford Transition House and Abbotsford Women’s Support Services, is sponsoring an Angel Tree program this holiday season.

The Angel Tree is a very special Christmas Tree strung with paper angels decorated by the children from John Maclure Community School and the children of Vancity staff members. Each angel bears the name, age and wish of an Abbotsford child who might otherwise not share in the joy of the holiday season.

The season will start with a special tree decorating party at the branch on Thursday, November 4th, 9:30 a.m. – 10;30 a.m. Members of the public are invited to join with local community organizations and Branch staff in the launch of the gift-giving program. The Angel Tree will be up in the Branch until Saturday, December 4th.

This is the second year that Vancity’s Abbotsford Branch has celebrated the season with an Angel Tree . In 2003, the Tree held over 120 Angels, and thanks to the members and the people in the Community every child received a Christmas present. For details on the decorating party or the the angel tree program, drop by the branch at 32675 South Fraser Way or call the branch at 604-870-5300.

Vancity is Canada’s largest credit union, with $9.3 billion in assets, 305,000 members, and 41 branches throughout Greater Vancouver, the Fraser Valley and Victoria. Vancity was chosen as the best place to work in Canada for 2005 by Maclean’s Magazine as part of its annual Canada’s Top 100 Employers issue. Vancity owns Citizens Bank of Canada, serving members across the country by telephone, ATM, and the Internet. Both Vancity and Citizens Bank are guided by a commitment to corporate social responsibility, and to improve the quality of life in the communities where we live and work.