For kids with sisters or brothers battling cancer, life can be difficult, and a group of employees from Greater Texas Credit Union came together to make a difference.
Through its Greater Good initiative, a dozen credit union employees volunteered to help ensure campers received a positive sendoff to Camp Grey Dove, which is offered for free through Any Baby Can.
Camp Grey Dove is a camp for kids with siblings that have cancer or special health care needs. The camp offers a respite for the campers; it allows them to just be a kid for a week without worrying about the family stress common when one child is undergoing treatment.
“The volunteers from Greater Texas worked seamlessly with our staff to reduce the anxiety these kids had leaving their family for camp,” said Sara Pittenger, Manager of Community Partnerships for Any Baby Can. “These kids often come to camp experiencing feelings of excitement mixed with sadness and guilt.”
Pittenger added, “Greater Texas helped make the sendoff go smoothly, making both campers and their parents a lot more comfortable. We are grateful for their time and assistance in creating a positive experience for everyone.”
This year 36 campers attended Camp Grey Dove. The camp offers traditional camp activities along with therapeutic programs and group counseling to help campers learn coping skills. It gives them the chance to be around others like them who understand what they are experiencing.
Greater Texas’ Greater Good campaign is a collaborative effort of employee and member volunteers who work together to strengthen the local community. Employees receive paid time off each year for volunteer efforts. The credit union also pledges to donate a minimum of one percent of its net revenue to Austin-based charities as part of its commitment to the Austin gives campaign.
About Greater Texas Credit Union
Greater Texas Credit Union, founded in 1952, is a financial cooperative that emphasizes community stewardship, charitable giving, and employee volunteerism through its Greater Good initiative. Together with its subsidiary, Aggieland Credit Union – which serves the Brazos Valley – the credit union offers a wide variety of consumer-oriented banking services to its 80,000 members across the state of Texas. Greater Texas has locations in Austin, Houston, San Antonio, Bryan-College Station, Edinburg, and the Dallas-Ft. Worth market with assets of nearly $1 billion.