Glendora, CA, 4/26/2019 — The numbers are staggering and of epidemic proportion. There are over 35,000 abused, neglected, and at-risk children in the foster care system in Los Angeles County alone, with hundreds of thousands more across the United States. To help combat this stunning problem, America’s Christian Credit Union (ACCU) dedicated 20% of its first-quarter Visa Giveback dollars to Olive Crest, an California-based non-profit dedicated to helping abused and neglected children. Since its founding in 1973, Olive Crest has lived out its “One Life At A Time” mission, assisting over 100,000 of the region’s most vulnerable children and families. They currently serve 3,500 children and familied throughout California, Nevada, and the Pacific Northwest.
ACCU believes that children, born and unborn, are made in the holy image of God and seeks to work together with like-minded partners to build a culture that cherishes innocent life. This aligns closely to the Building Stronger Familieselement of the credit union’s mission. Dedication to this objective resulted in a partnership with the non-profit ministries Save Unborn Life as well as And Then There Were None.
Founded 15 years ago, Save Unborn Life (SUL) offers counseling services to mothers who are considering abortion. Financial need is a rationale often cited by pregnant women who consider ending the life of their unborn child. As an incentive for the pregnant mom to reconsider and spare the life of her child, SUL offers compensation to needy women in this situation. This allocation can serve as a stopgap measure, providing an opportunity for the woman to assess all available options. In many instances, women who accept the financial assistance choose to bring their child to term, to be raised either by the birth mother or by adoptive parents.
And Then There Were None (ATTWN) was founded by Abby Johnson, whose story is documented in the powerful feature film Unplanned. This non-profit focuses on providing a safe haven for clinic workers who are seeking to leave the abortion industry. ATTWN provides assistance within the financial, legal, emotional, spiritual, and support realms. Through this program, clinic workers often healed, strengthened, and emboldened to exit the abortion industry, and to persuade others to do the same.
In each calendar quarter since 2010, ACCU has donated Visa-related interchange income to top-tier ministries. These ministries provide essential services and make meaningful impacts in their communities. Through the end of 1st quarter 2019, the giveback program has allocated, in total, about $350,000 over the past decade. This year, along with the support given to Olive Crest, Save Unborn Life, and And Then There Were None, ACCU donated 1st quarter Visa Giveback dollars to The Legacy Center of New York, and the World Mission Broadcast project of the Church of the Nazarene.
If you would like to be a part of future Visa Giveback donations apply for an ACCU Visa Credit Card today.