Bettendorf, Iowa – Through its annual Ride 50 auto loan promotion, Ascentra Credit Union and its members raised $16,900 for local Salvation Armies in 2022, including $1,900 given to The Salvation Army of Muscatine 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. “Only through donations can we continue helping the residents of Muscatine County and Ascentra’s contributions will help fund our after school program and other initiatives,” said Lieutenant Lucas Gantner, corps officer, the Salvation Army of Muscatine County. “We appreciate all that they have done to help us raise money and create awareness during this past holiday season and look forward to our continued partnership.”
Members of Ascentra’s leadership team present corps officers from The Salvation Army of Muscatine 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; Lt. Lucas Gantner, Corps Officer, The Salvation Army of Muscatine County; Macy Gantner, Corps Officer, The Salvation Army of Muscatine County; Brad Knutson, EVP and CTO, Ascentra Credit Union and Shelly Ridgeway, SVP and COO, Ascentra Credit Union. Photo courtesy Ascentra Credit Union.
“We are beyond blessed to see the contributions from so many in Muscatine County, and Ascentra is one of those that stood on the front lines with us this Christmas season,” said Lieutenant Macy Gantner, corps officer, the Salvation Army of Muscatine County. “This helps us year-round and impacts the ministry that we do in a profound way.”
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.
