Payday Advance Companies Give Back To Communities
In May 2006, CFSA launched an online survey to compile data on the community outreach efforts of its member companies. The following is a sampling of some of the philanthropic and community service activity reported by respondents.
Advance America, Spartanburg, SC
To encourage political participation among citizens, Advance America sponsors, Register in Advance—the company’s non-partisan voter registration program. In doing so, the company partners with the Georgia Coalition for the People’s Agenda, League of United Latino American Citizens (LULAC), League of Women Voters, National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials Educational Fund (NALEO), People for the American Way Foundation, and the Southwest Voter Registration Education Project.
In addition, Advance America is the sponsor of NALEO’s Community Empowerment Program and has committed a substantial contribution over a three-year period. The company also contributed substantial funding to the Bridge Educational Foundation, a fund that provides scholarships to students.
Advance America has actively supported the military by collecting goods and sending care packages to troops. The company also supports faith-based organizations by training church representatives on how to teach financial literacy to citizens in their community. In doing so, the company has worked with local Urban League affiliates in Columbia and Spartanburg, S. C.
Checksmart Check Cashing Inc, Dublin, OH
Checksmart makes contributions to local elementary schools in Phoenix, AZ and the Columbus Foundation. The company also administers the Community Fund, a community-grant program in which the company provides mini-grants to small, local non-profit organizations in each of their seven service markets. Since 2001, the company has provided mini-grants to more than 40 organizations.
Last year, Checksmart supported Katrina victims of Mississippi by sending donations from customers and purchased supplies through the Christ United Methodist Church in Jackson, Mississippi. The company also launched a military support effort in 2005, which included shipping care packages to Marine units in Iraq and providing soldiers with calling cards through their Cell Phones for Soldiers Program.
The company supports faith-based organizations by contributing to the Christian Coalition, the Columbus Zoo & Aquarium, North College Hill Police Dept. , the Community Fund Program, which has provided mini-grants to more than 40 local non profits, and sponsoring employee volunteer efforts at the Holy Family Soup Kitchen.
Cash America, Ft. Worth, TX
Cash America supports community activities such as the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, Reading Frogs Outreach Program, and Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. The company also partners with Texas Christian University students as volunteers to help improve reading skills among elementary and middle school students.
In support of military personnel, Cash America sponsored a donation drive for troops in Iraq. The company shipped supplies to troops in active duty. In addition, Cash America provided 1,800 thirty-minute international phone cards to the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base in Fort Worth, TX.
Check City, Provo, UT
Check City solicits donations for the United Way Home-Front Response, a military war relief fund for Utah’s military families. The company has collected thousands of dollars for the program. The company makes contributions to the Muscular Dystrophy Association in Las Vegas, one of its major service markets, as well as the United Cerebral Palsy of Utah.
Check Into Cash, Cleveland, TN
Check Into Cash launched Operation In-Touch, a military support effort through which 27,000 calling cards were sent to soldiers stationed overseas. The company was awarded a national award from the Veterans of Foreign Wars because of its support.
The company also participates in community-wide United Way campaigns in each of its service markets and raises financial support through company payroll deductions. To support local schools, Check Into Cash, donated computers to local schools for classroom and computer laboratories.
In efforts to support faith-based organizations, Check Into Cash provides seed money to establish a faith-based banking and lending operation through the Bradley-Cleveland Community Initiative. Other efforts include volunteering with the Red Cross, participating in Cancer Society relay walks and volunteering to help build Habitat houses.
QC Holdings, Overland Park, KS
QC Holdings makes contribution to more than 60 organizations throughout the year. The company has raised thousands of dollars for the Red Cross Hurricane Katrina through an employee-matching fund program.
QC Holdings also supports the Kaw Valley Habitat for Humanity by making financial contributions to fund building and renovations efforts. In addition, QC Holdings supports the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society with financial contributions to the organization’s local chapter.
UnBANC, Dryden, WA
UnBANC supports the Upper Wenatchee Valley Habitat for Humanity. In 2005, the company donated a house for renovation and made financial contributions to the faith-based housing organization. UnBANC also actively support local schools, athletic programs and baseball teams. Last year, the company provided scholarships for kids in an athletic program and made a financial contribution to local schools to build/renovate outdoor play areas.
