Date: April 8, 2005

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

St. Charles County Credit Unions Team Up to Drive Funds to

Family Support Services Building Campaign

ST. CHARLES—Imagine the incredible strain of caring for a family member with a developmental disability. Unlike caring for a person with an illness that can be treated and possibly cured over time, helping a family member challenged with a developmental disability is a lifelong commitment. It can take an incredible toll on the entire family. To kick off March as National Disabilities Awareness Month, Family Support Services has teamed up with local St. Charles County credit unions to help ease the burden on such families.

Family Support Services hopes to raise an additional $250,000 toward a goal of $3.5 million for a new 22,000 square foot family support center created to aid families with a developmental disability member. Local credit unions will contribute with their Credit Union Community Cares campaign. The cooperative effort was created during discussions between the Family Support Services agency and local credit union presidents. “Credit unions operate under the philosophy of ‘people helping people,’ and our agency needs assistance so we can build a better facility to continue our work at helping people with developmental disabilities. The credit unions wanted to help and they suggested basing donations on their auto loan volume to maximize the effort,” said Mark Rudolph, Executive Director of Family Support Services.

The Credit Union Community Cares campaign runs April 15-May 31 with a portion of each vehicle financed by a credit union member through a participating credit union going toward the capital campaign. Participating credit unions will donate $20 of each loan they fund, while credit union members will also have an opportunity to make donations. The Credit Union Community Cares campaign goal is $50,000.

The tremendous growth in St. Charles County threatens to overwhelm the support systems for families that have a child with a development disability.

Raising a special needs child can take its toll emotionally and physically. The simple act of trying to lead a typical life can cause an undo amount of stress on all involved. The new Family Support Services Center would provide the much needed aid that the St. Charles County community requires.

This is a very timely issue as Family Support Services must raise $250,000 by the fall of 2005 to qualify for a matching grant from the prestigious Mabee Foundation of Tulsa, Oklahoma. The new center will provide expanded options for youth with significant behavioral needs, care options for school-aged youth, a “training apartment,” increased parent education opportunities, recreational events, greater access to Autism-related services and much more. “The new Family Support Center will make a huge difference in the lives of many of our young citizens who face special challenges throughout their entire lives,” said Tom Hughes, campaign chairman.

Maureen Zink is a parent who has used Family Support Services in the past. “Family Support Services has given my severely autistic daughter a chance to socialize, develop friendships, and be a part of a group in a professionally-controlled, positive environment.”

Credit unions participating in this worthwhile effort include: Aerospace Community Credit Union, First Community Credit Union, Gateway Metro Credit Union, Healthcare Family Credit Union, Meridian Credit Union, Missouri Valley Credit Union, Vantage Credit Union, and West Community Credit Union. Members Resource, LLC, a subsidiary of Vantage Credit Union, is also contributing funds to the effort.

Family Support Services is dedicated to improving the quality of life for families having a member with developmental disabilities. Hope is cultivated by providing quality programs that improve or maintain physical abilities, build confidence, promote greater

self-reliance, manage stress, and strengthen interpersonal skills. The agency’s campaign slogan of “Put a little love in your heart” is evidenced by its hard work and dedication to creating a bright spot in the lives of those who need it most. With the help of local credit unions, Family Support Services hopes to ease the burden of hundreds of St. Charles County families.

For more information about the Credit Union Community Cares campaign or how you can make a contribution to the Family Support Services building campaign effort, call Mark Rudolph or Caroline Davinroy at (636) 949-2546.

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