Arizona Federal & Valley of the Sun YMCA announce partnership

Financial education and access to affordable financial services drives exclusive partnership

(PHOENIX, AZ) – The Valley of the Sun YMCA and Arizona Federal announced today the creation of an exclusive partnership which will bring financial education and services to the Valley of the Sun YMCAs. Currently, the Valley of the Sun YMCA operates 16 locations across metropolitan Phoenix, while Arizona Federal has 23 Phoenix area branches. The organizations have over 285,000 members and 223,000 members respectively.

The partnership mission is to fill the need for affordable financial services and financial education, delivered directly to the heart of the communities served.

“The Valley of the Sun YMCA is pleased to partner with Arizona Federal to offer our membership a wide-array of financial education classes and financial services,” said Greg O’Brien, Chief Executive Officer of the Valley of the Sun YMCA. “This new partnership is in-step with our mission of building strong kids, strong families, and strong communities.”

The two groups share similar core values, including honesty, respect, and responsibility.

“Financial responsibility and independence, derived through sound financial education, helps to further the cause of strong families, a key tenet of the YMCA mission,” said Ronald Westad, President and Chief Executive Officer of Arizona Federal. “This partnership was forged in response to a great social need: the need for financial education. Arizona Federal is proud to partner with the YMCA to help deliver these critical financial skills to the community.”

Government officials were quick to laud the partnership.

"Arizona Federal and the Valley of the Sun YMCA are two organizations which have demonstrated time and again their commitment to the community,” said Congressman Ed Pastor. “Under this new partnership, residents in the neighborhoods will have an opportunity to explore financial education. Additionally, the financial services offered at the new Arizona Federal YMCA Branch will undoubtedly help combat the predatory lending practices which are prevalent in the community."

“Phoenix residents will be well-served by the dynamic partnership between Arizona Federal and the Valley of the Sun YMCA,” said Councilman Claude Mattox, whose district is home to the new Maryvale YMCA slated to open in early 2008. “By offering financial fitness classes to the public, Arizona Federal continues to display the type of corporate responsibility we need not only in Maryvale, but throughout the Valley.”

Arizona Federal is one of the state’s largest credit unions with more than $1.7 billion in assets, 220,000 member accounts and 25 Arizona locations. Arizona Federal focuses on its members by making it easy for them to do business and offering them a wide variety of financial services. Arizona Federal is also dedicated to providing financial education and playing a positive role in the community.

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