America's Credit Union (ACU) presented a $30,000 check to three on-base charities this week that will directly impact families on Joint Base Lewis-McChord. The monies were raised during ACU's 12th Annual Holiday Troop Support Golf Tournament, or Turkey Shoot, held earlier this month.

"Soldiers do their jobs 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so it's right for us to do what we can," said Amy Tiemeyer, ACU military relations liaison.

According to Tiemeyer, ACU has raised $225,000 during the last decade for Servicemembers and their families on JBLM. That is in addition to the $160,000 that the credit union itself contributes to the base annually.

ACU staffers, a group of elf volunteers from Santa's Castle and representatives from both the Madigan Foundation and the Food Basket Program attended the check presentation, which was held inside the soon-to-be bustling Santa's Castle.

Garrison Command Sgt. Maj. Ronald Johnson accepted the check on behalf of JBLM families from ACU's President and CEO, Ken Leonard.

"This is what we do, we support the Soldiers and their families during the holidays and, of course, if and when they ever become injured," Leonard said.

A $10,000 portion of the funds went to each of the following: the Food Basket Program, which serves lower enlisted families struggling to make ends meet; Santa's Castle, which provides Christmas gifts to children of Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine, activated National Guard and Reserve families (E-5 and below) throughout the Northwest who are experiencing financial difficulty; and the Madigan Foundation, which supports military families, active and retired, as well as the Madigan Healthcare System, through programs designed to improve and enhance the quality of care and quality of life of patients, their families and their health care providers.