SPACE COAST CREDIT UNION LAUNCHES PINK CHARITABLE CREDIT AND DEBIT CARD TO BENEFIT FLORIDA BREAST CANCER COALITION RESEARCH FOUNDATION

Space Coast Credit Union (SCCU), a state-chartered credit union headquartered in Melbourne, Florida that serves 160,000 members and holding assets of more than $1.6 billion, has expanded its card product lines with the addition of Pink Platinum Visa® credit and Pink Visa® debit cards that offer a donation option to benefit the Florida Breast Cancer Coalition Research Foundation (FBCCRF). Additionally, SCCU has donated $1,000 to FBCCRF to kick-off the official launch of the campaign and to help the non-profit with its myriad of programs and services for research and awareness campaigns in the state of Florida.

According to Teresa Farnsworth, SCCU Vice President of Card Services and Operations, members can earn rewards on pink debit and credit cards through the credit union's Scorecard Rewards program. 50 percent of points earned each month on the cards will be converted to cash for the Foundation. "We are responding to member interest in supporting breast cancer awareness and survivor programs in the neighborhoods we serve and throughout the state," said Farnsworth. "This is an important community service initiative for SCCU. Member support and the power of our collective voice make it possible to contribute to a worthy cause," she said.

"Through the month of May and June, the credit union's 32 branch locations will feature pink decorations along with brochures, posters and banners to promote the cards and how members can donate through their purchases," Farnsworth said. "Our employees and members are already responding positively to the charitable pink card program. Plus, the branch locations are piquing a lot of interest with the pink décor and the caring statement we're making to all who pass by our buildings," said Laura Lee, SCCU quality analyst. "We are very proud to work for a company that takes such great efforts to make a difference in the community," she said.

Pictured above from left: Muriel Sommers FBCCRF Development Manager, Teresa Farnsworth, SCCU VP of Card Services Operations, James Konschnik FBCCRF CEO, and Kathy Durham FBCCRF Vice President.

According to James Konschnik, FBCCRF CEO, "the opportunity to work with SCCU and its members is a valuable gift to the organization", which was founded in 1993 by a small group of advocates. "With the help of companies like SCCU and its members along with our ongoing donors and scholarship funding, we can make advocacy and education a reality for breast cancer awareness and research around the State of Florida," said Konschnik. "We are very grateful that the credit union and its members are interested in our quest for continuing research to reduce the incidences of breast cancer and improve methods for diagnosis in Florida". For more information about the charitable card program, contact SCCU at (321) 752-2222, option 5 or visit www.sccu.com/gopink.

Are you a FBCCRF Committee Member?

If your answer is NO then now is your chance to join a committee and make a difference. FBCCRF is very excited about beginning the 2009-2010 fiscal year and has lofty goals to go along with it.

Why not get involved with one or more of the committees to help accomplish 2009-2010 goals. There is a committee for everyone so help make a difference today!

Click Here for a full list of all FBCCRF committees and a brief description.

Contact us today at 954.454.4156 or email assistant@fbccrf.org for any questions/ sign-up.

Together we WILL end breast cancer!

Lee Edelstein

Honored by FBCCRF as

The Donor Next Door

Lee Edelstein, immediate past Vice President and current member of Board of Directors of Florida Breast Cancer Coalition Research Foundation (FBCCRF) was recently recognized in Miami at The Donor Next Door Awards Luncheon. Mr. Edelstein plays an instrumental role within FBCCRF and was recognized for going above and beyond in the fight to end breast cancer.

Mr. Edelstein: local business leader, community activist, and philanthropist. Lee began his involvement with the FBCCRF shortly after losing his wife, Heather, to breast cancer in December 2001. About a month after she had passed away, he received a FBCCRF Newsletter in the mail. In it they discussed how close they were to gaining approval for an End Breast Cancer license plate. If approved, it would generate, for each plate sold and/or renewed, $25 that would be used to further breast cancer education and research within the State of Florida. Lee was looking to do something that would help in the battle against breast cancer. He thought that getting the End Breast Cancer license plate approved would be a worthy goal to pursue, one that could make a difference in the fight to cure breast cancer. His first effort was to help provide the necessary funds to see the approval process through to completion.

Shortly thereafter he got involved with FBCCRF by becoming a member of the Board of Directors. In 2004, he married again, to Janet, a beautiful and warm hearted lady, who is also a breast cancer survivor. This further cemented his resolve to do his part to help end this terrible disease that afflicts so many. Over the years, he has served in numerous positions within FBCCRF including Board Member, Chairman of the Finance Committee, Vice President, and many other committee assignments. Subsequent fundraising initiatives, some spearheaded by him personally, included an offer to match friends and family contributions in memory of Heather and honoring Janet.

Lee states, "I am most proud that, since its approval, the End Breast Cancer license plate has generated over $2 million in research and education funds in the fight against breast cancer."

Join all of us in congratulating Lee as he is honored as FBCCRF's Donor Next Door.

Please VISIT and JOIN FBCCRF Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter networking pages. View our event photos, read our blogs, view our videos and other exciting features! Remember, Together we will End Breast Cancer!!!

FBCCRF, affiliated with the National Breast Cancer Coalition, is a non-profit grassroots organization dedicated to ending of breast cancer through advocacy, education and research.

Our purpose is to raise awareness and mobilize the population of Florida to ensure:
• Sufficient government and public funding for breast cancer research
• Quality health care for all without fear of discrimination
• An environment free of carcinogens

To achieve our mission, FBCCRF welcomes all who are committed to ending the breast cancer epidemic. We have made great strides, but much more needs to be done, especially here in Florida. We need your involvement in the Florida Breast Cancer Coalition Research Foundation.

Please click here if you would like to volunteer for FBCCRF.