Ascentra Raises $16,900 for Local Salvation Armies through its Ride 50 Auto Loan Promotion
Through its annual Ride 50 auto loan promotion, Ascentra Credit Union and its members raised $16,900 for local Salvation Armies in 2022, including $1,950 given to The Salvation Army of Clinton County.
This promotion begins Oct. 1 and ends Dec. 31 each year. With every new qualifying auto loan or refinance during those months, Ascentra gives $50 to the borrower and donates $50 to one of four Salvation Army regions depending on where the borrower lives. Combined, Ascentra’s nine branches processed 338 auto loans during this time in 2022 which raised a total of $16,900. The five branches in the Quad Cities raised $10,600, the Moline branch raised $2,450, the Muscatine branch raised $1,900 and the two branches in Clinton raised $1,950.
“Given the recent changes to our economy, I am excited to see the community come together to support a worthy organization in such a big way,” said Linda Andry, President and CEO, Ascentra Credit Union. “The Salvation Army is a long established organization in our communities and can quickly turn these donations around to immediately help residents in need.”
The partnership between the Salvation Army and Ascentra started in 2019, when the Salvation Army was selected as the beneficiary of the Ride 50 holiday auto promotion that year. Since then, they have partnered for this promotion two more times in 2021 and 2022. “Ascentra’s holiday campaign was vital in raising awareness of our presence in Clinton County,” said Susan Sharp, Directory of Ministry & Operations, Salvation Army 360 Life Center, Clinton, IA. “Their donation helps us to impact more lives with our programs and assistance.”
In 2021, Ascentra’s campaign included introducing its members and the community to all the services that the Salvation Army provides in the Quad City, Moline, Muscatine and Clinton areas. This also included promoting its Pathway of Hope program that focuses on helping families break the generational cycle of poverty, and encouraged members, staff and others to volunteer by ringing the bell throughout the holidays. In 2022, Ascentra took its efforts one-step further by coordinating and producing five awareness videos for The Salvation Army to use in its promotional efforts featuring Davenport’s Housing Services and the Adult Rehabilitation Center, Moline’s food pantry and coat drive, Muscatine’s after school program and Clinton’s career services. Lastly, Ascentra encourages its staff to get involved by inviting them to be bell ringers and coordinating schedules internally. “Over the past couple years, many of our employees have been bell ringers for The Salvation Army,” said Andry. “They’ve come out to do this as individuals, departments, and even with their families. I am thankful that our Ascentra Team can be a part of something so meaningful during the holidays”.
Since 2019, Ascentra’s Ride 50 holiday auto loan promotion and its members have generated more than $52,000 to support The Salvation Army and its initiatives. In recognition of this partnership, the Salvation Army presented Ascentra Credit Union with a Community Partner Award during a lunch reception at Ascentra’s home office on Thursday, February 2, 2023.
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Photo Caption:
Members of Ascentra’s leadership team present corps officers from The Salvation Army of Clinton County, IA with a check representing the donations generated through its annual Ride 50 auto loan promotion. Pictured left to right are Jennifer Naeve, SVP and CMO, Ascentra Credit Union; Aaron Conner, VP of Operations, Ascentra Credit Union; Linda Andry, President and CEO, Ascentra Credit Union; Susan Sharp, Directory of Ministry & Operations, Salvation Army 360 Life Center, Clinton; Brad Knutson, EVP and CTO, Ascentra Credit Union and Shelly Ridgeway, SVP and COO, Ascentra Credit Union.
About Ascentra
Founded in 1950, Ascentra Credit Union is Iowa's premier credit union with more than $518 million in assets and nine branches serving the communities of Bettendorf, Clinton, Davenport, Muscatine, Iowa and Moline, Illinois. Learn more about Ascentra Credit Union at ascentra.org. Follow Ascentra on Facebook (@ascentra), Twitter (@ascentra), Instagram (@ascentracu), TikTok (@ascentra) and on the Ascentra Credit Union YouTube channel.
About the Salvation Army
The Salvation Army, an evangelical part of the universal Christian church, has been supporting those in need in His name without discrimination since 1865. Nearly 33 million Americans receive assistance from The Salvation Army each year through the broadest array of social services that range from providing food for the hungry, relief for disaster victims, assistance for the disabled, outreach to the elderly and ill, clothing and shelter to the homeless and opportunities for underprivileged children. Learn more about the Salvation Army at https://www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn/.
ASCENTRA MEDIA CONTACTS:
Jennifer Naeve, Chief Marketing Officer
Phone: 563-459-6952, Mobile: 563.249.3854
Email: jennifer.naeve@ascentra.org
Barry Shaw, Marketing Manager
Phone: 563-459-6909
Email: barry.shaw@ascentra.org