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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Scott Biggs
Ohio Credit Union League
800-486-2917 or 614-336-2894

Ohio Credit Unions donate 343 hours of phone cards to let troops overseas call home

(Photo available)

COLUMBUS, OHIO (May 4, 2005) – Ohio credit unions have donated more than 100 long-distant calling cards to the USO in a project that will allow troops overseas more than 340 hours of talk time to speak with loved ones back home.

Executives, staff members and volunteer directors of Ohio’s credit unions donated the calling cards as part of the Ohio Credit Union League’s Seventh Annual Outreach Project, conducted at the trade association’s 71st Annual Convention & Expo in downtown Columbus, April 21-23.

The Outreach Project collected 106 calling cards worth 20,600 minutes -- or 343 hours -- for U.S. military personnel overseas.

Sue Helmreich, the Ohio Credit Union League’s Manager of Outreach Programs, delivered the cards to Jake Brewer, the Executive Director of the USO of Columbus and Central Ohio on April 29. The USO will distribute the cards to service men and women serving overseas.

"One of the most precious gifts our soldiers and sailors receive is the opportunity to call home,” Helmreich said. “Ohio credit unions are happy to provide a way to help our service men and women catch up with family members and friends back home.”

CUTLINE: Sue Helmreich, of the Ohio Credit Union League, presents international calling cards donated by Ohio credit unions, to Jake Brewer, the Executive Director of the USO of Columbus and Central Ohio, with help from members of the 88th Regional Readiness Command, including SFC Richardson, SFC Pesquera, and SFC Witcher.

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The Ohio Credit Union League, with offices in Dublin, Ohio, is a trade association representing nearly 500 credit unions. Credit unions are not-for-profit cooperative financial institutions owned and democratically controlled by their member/owners and governed by volunteer boards of directors. Ohio credit unions are provide savings, loans, and other consumer financial services to nearly 3 million Ohioans. Nationally, credit unions serve 86 million member/owners. To learn more, visit www.OhioCreditUnions.org.