Summit Credit Union and "PIF"

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 29, 2009 For more information, contact:
Cheryl Van Tessier, Finesse Public Relations LLC
(608) 467-4408, ctessier@finessepr.net <mailto:ctessier@finessepr.net>
Jamie Bay, Summit Credit Union
(608) 243-5000X4707, Jamie.bay@summitcreditunion.com

SUMMIT CREDIT UNION ANNOUNCES WINNER OF

‘PAY IT FORWARD’

More than 4,100 rank video pledges on-line to determine winner of grass-roots charity effort

MADISON, Wis. — The community has spoken – with 4,162 online votes in all – and the winner of Summit Credit Union’s grass-roots charity effort, ‘Pay It Forward,’ has been determined.

The video pledge entitled, “Giving Relative,” http://payitforward.summitcreditunion.com/page.php?page=3&pid=458&sf=r received the highest local ranking out of the 798 Pay It Forward program pledges which were videotaped at Summit’s 20 branch locations between March 23 and May 14.

Each Pay It Forward participant was asked the question, “If we gave you $10… what would you do for someone else?” and responses were posted on Summit’s web site.
Winner Elizabeth Lease indicated in her pledge, which was taped at Summit’s Cottage Grove branch, that she’d donate her $10 to a relative who’s struggling.

As follow up, all Pay It Forward participants were asked to post a written statement revealing what they did with the money. Elizabeth wrote:

“After leaving Summit I contacted my sister, who has recently had to quit her job due to an increase of symptoms of her lupus. I asked if she could use some extra cash for groceries, which she needed. I went to her home and gave her the $10 to buy some groceries with. Needless to say she was extremely appreciative and at the time it was exactly what she needed to take her mind off of her medical issues.”

As the grand-prize winner, Elizabeth will receive $500. Additionally, Summit will donate $500 to her charity of choice — the Lupus Foundation of America – Wisconsin Chapter (Madison).

Due to the popularity of the Pay It Forward program and the goodwill it generated, Summit will also be donating $500 to the chosen charities — the Waunakee Neighborhood Connection — of the second and third place videos, which were both filmed at Summit’s Waunakee branch. The second and third place winners are:

· Second Place – “Matching for Mothers” http://payitforward.summitcreditunion.com/page.php?page=3&pid=240&sf=r <http://payitforward.summitcreditunion.com/page.php?page=3&pid=240&sf=r>

· Third Place – “Stretch the Dollars”

http://payitforward.summitcreditunion.com/page.php?page=3&pid=237&sf=r

The voting phase took place June 1-15, during which community members were invited to rate the video pledges on a scale of one to five “stars.” The public was also invited to comment on the videos, which are still available for viewing at www.summitcreditunion.com <http://www.summitcreditunion.com/> .

History of Pay It Forward:

Summit’s Pay It Forward program is unique in the marketplace and appealed to a wide variety of members and non-members. The program was built upon the “pay it forward” concept, where the good deeds one has received—in this case, $10—is repaid by doing good things for others.

The Pay It Forward concept was first described by Benjamin Franklin in 1784 and popularized by Robert A. Heinlein in his book, Between Planets, published in 1951. In 2000, Catherine Ryan Hyde’s novel, Pay It Forward, was published and adapted into a Warner Brothers film bearing the same name.

About Summit Credit Union:

Established in 1931, Summit Credit Union is a member-owned financial cooperative open to anyone in Wisconsin. Summit holds $1.3 billion in assets and has more than 106,000 members with a total of 20 locations throughout the Madison and Milwaukee areas. For more information, visit www.summitcreditunion.com <http://www.summitcreditunion.com/> or call (608) 243-5000 or (800) 236-5560.