BETTENDORF, IOWA (February 9, 2022) — The results are in, and the members of Ascentra Credit Union have raised more than $23,000 through the credit union’s Ride 50 auto-loan promotion during the 2021 holiday season. Beginning in October 2021, Ascentra members who qualified for an auto loan or refinance received $50 to help with holiday spending, as well as a $50 donation to the Salvation Army in their community.
The four communities reached through this campaign are determined by Ascentra’s branch locations and the areas the Salvation Army serves, which are the Quad Cities, Clinton and Muscatine, Iowa, and Moline, Illinois.
Each year the local Salvation Army sets a fundraising goal for their annual Red Kettle Campaign that begins in November and extends through the holidays each year. In the Quad Cities, the 2021 goal was $750,000.
“Through the amazing partnership with Ascentra Credit Union and very generous communities this season, The Salvation Army has been able to not only reach our Christmas campaign goal but exceed it by five percent and help hundreds of families in need”, said Major Robert Doliber, the Salvation Army’s Quad Cities Coordinator. “In these trying times, people continue to struggle with affordable housing and food insecurity, but because of the success of the Ride 50 promotion, Hope Marches On for these families throughout the year.”
Combined, Ascentra’s nine branches processed 462 auto loans which raised $23,100. The five branches in the Quad Cities raised $12,150, the Moline branch raised $3,050, the Muscatine branch raised $3,700 and the two branches in Clinton raised $4,200.
“We are so impressed by the results of our Ride 50 promotion”, said Jennifer Naeve, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Ascentra Credit Union. “With the impact the pandemic is having, we knew that we needed to find a way to help. This promotion was designed to encourage our members to not only save money through our great rates but also join us in raising money for a good cause that benefits people in our own communities”.
Since 2018, Ascentra Credit Union has promoted the Ride 50 campaign, an auto-loan promotion that gives the borrower $50 for holiday spending and donates $50 to a predetermined, non-profit organization that benefits citizens in the communities of the Quad Cities, Moline, Muscatine, and Clinton. Since its inception the promotion has generated $73,600 in donations to organizations like the Salvation Army, River Bend Food Bank, Toys for Tots, and Clinton’s Holiday Network.
In addition to raising funds, Ascentra wanted to raise awareness for the Salvation Army in the communities in which it serves. To do this, they worked with the local staff to develop a webpage that highlighted the programs and services offered to residents. The website shared information about the Salvation Army mission, broke out programs and services by location and highlighted their Pathway of Hope program, which focuses on how families can break the generational cycle of poverty. It also showed visitors how they could get involved by “Ringing the Bell” or through other opportunities. All Ascentra’s Ride 50 promotional advertising and materials carried the message of “Doing Good Together” and highlighted the awareness page’s URL. Lastly, several Ascentra employees personally contributed to the credit union’s partnership by volunteering to “ring the bell” in their communities.
“The Salvation Army is a comprehensive program designed to help people across our country,” said Linda Andry, President and CEO, Ascentra Credit Union. “They offer local outreach programs and services to help people get back on their feet. We are proud to partner with them and help carry on their mission in our communities.”
About Ascentra
Founded in 1950, Ascentra Credit Union, is Iowa's premier credit union with more than $534 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, ranging from providing food for the hungry, relief for disaster victims, and 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 of the Quad Cities at https://centralusa.salvationarmy.org/quadcities/.
