PSCU Partners with Free Arts for Abused Children of Arizona

CUSO’s facility in Phoenix to host series of art installation events to help fight child neglect and abuse

St. Petersburg, Fla. – (June 5, 2017) – PSCU, the nation’s leading CUSO, has partnered with Free Arts for Abused Children of Arizona (Free Arts), a nonprofit organization in Arizona, to host an art installation and employee painting event on June 5, 2017 at its Phoenix, Ariz. Operations Center to benefit children ages 3 to 21 who have endured abuse, neglect and homelessness. Free Arts uses the healing powers of the arts to help abused and homeless children build resiliency and learn to trust and heal. All of the children in Free Arts programs have experienced combinations of family trauma, homelessness, and violence.

“The credit union family extends far and wide and its members actively contribute their time and resources to advance the health of the communities they serve. We’re excited about this opportunity to team up with our friends at Free Arts to help them help the children who need it the most,” said Lynn Heckler, PSCU EVP and Chief Talent Officer.

In 2015, Free Arts was awarded the 2015 Arts Advocacy Group Award by the Greater Arizona Chapter of the National Society of Arts and Letters. This award recognizes a non-profit organization which has demonstrated outstanding achievements in the arts community. In 2016 Free Arts was named as the Innovative Organization by the Mayors Arts Awards.

According to Heckler, partnering with Free Arts provides the means to bring awareness to the organization’s investment in the wellbeing of every community’s most valuable, yet most vulnerable asset, children. Initially, PSCU will host several children’s art exhibits specifically selected for display on the walls throughout PSCU’s facility in Phoenix. Each painting will be accompanied by the artist’s story of what the painting means to them.

On the day of the art installation, Free Arts will join PSCU in a meet-and-greet celebration, where employees will be encouraged to help create their own art exhibit. The theme of the artwork will be “Helping Make Dreams Come True.”

About Free Arts for Abused Children of Arizona

For 24 years, Free Arts for Abused Children of Arizona has used art as a tool to help more than 105,000 children gain self-confidence, learn to express their emotions in positive ways, and build trusting relationships with adults who care. The organization was founded in 1993 by art therapist Margaret Beresford and Executive Director, Stephanie Small, with an initial budget of $30,000 and a volunteer base of 5 individuals serving 60 children. Today, Free Arts employs 15 staff members and has more than 900 trained volunteers and artists, who help heal more than 8,000 homeless and abused children each year through artistic elements that promote safety, self-expression and a sense of belonging. For more information, visit http://www.freeartsaz.org/.

About PSCU

Established in 1977, PSCU (St. Petersburg, Fla.) is the nation's leading credit union service organization (CUSO). The company was recognized as CUSO of the Year in 2016 by the National Association of Credit Union Service Organizations. PSCU’s products, financial services solutions and service model collectively support over 850 Owner credit unions representing more than 20 million credit, debit, prepaid, online bill payment and mobile accounts; protect over 2 billion transactions annually from fraud; and optimize credit union performance and growth. Comprehensive 24/7/365 member support is delivered through call centers located throughout the United States. For more information, visit www.pscu.com.