In December, Tennessee Valley Federal Credit Union (TVFCU) donated nearly 300 bags of gifts to children and seniors in need through the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program.
Over the past month, credit union employees and members selected an “Angel Tag” from a tree in one of over
a dozen participating branches and purchased items from the Angel’s wish list. TVFCU collected the gifts and
delivered them to the Salvation Army’s warehouse to be distributed to families in need, bringing joy and
smiles in time for the holidays.
In addition to the gifts received through the branches, employees raised over $13,000 at their annual day-
before-Thanksgiving food auction, and then went on a shopping spree to fulfill more holiday wish lists.
“It is a tremendous gift to see such participation from our members and our employees,” said Nick Townsend,
AVP of information technology and auctioneer at this year’s food auction. “TVFCU has participated in the
Angel Tree program for two decades now, and this year we had an amazing level of engagement — by far the
biggest response we have ever seen. Thank you to everyone who participated. There is no gift that is too small as we never know the impact these gifts will have on someone’s life.”
Participating branches included: Athens, City Center, Dalton, Eastgate, Hamilton Place, Highway 58, Hixson,
Kimball, North Cleveland, Ooltewah, Soddy Daisy, South Cleveland and Southside. Other branches
participated in programs like Stocking Full of Love (Chickamauga, Fort Oglethorpe, Highway 41, Ringgold) and Toys & Coats for Kids (Dayton).
“The results were truly exceptional,” said Todd Fortner, president and CEO of the credit union. “We saw a 55% increase in Angel Tree giving compared to 2024, making this a record-breaking year. Through the combined efforts of our members and employees, 291 Angels and Silver Bells (senior adults) were fulfilled this holiday season.”
As a not-for-profit, member-owned credit union, TVFCU is committed to creating “A Place for All of Us” and
giving back to the Tennessee Valley and North Georgia. To learn more about all the ways TVFCU invests in the community, visit tvfcu.com/community.
Although the Angel Tree program has wrapped up for 2025, individuals can support the Salvation Army’s vital
programs year-round by donating at csarmy.org.
About Tennessee Valley Federal Credit Union
Tennessee Valley Federal Credit Union (TVFCU), a not-for-profit financial cooperative, was established in 1936 when 57 Chattanooga TVA employees pooled $500 to create the member-owned credit union. Today, TVFCU serves more than 174,000 members who live, work, worship, volunteer or attend school throughout the 17-county service community. With more than $3 billion in assets and 29 branches throughout the area, TVFCU is the largest credit union in Southeast Tennessee and Northwest Georgia. For more information about TVFCU, please visit tvfcu.com.
Photo Caption—TVFCU employees showcase the gift receipts for nearly 300 Angel Tree adoptions!
