Jeff Meshey, President and CEO of Desert Financial Credit Union recaps the biggest, and most successful year of our annual Stuff the Bus Back to School Drive. Learn more at https://aztv.com/stuffthebus
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00:00 [MUSIC PLAYING]
00:03 The Desert Financial Credit Union
00:07 stopped the bus back to school drive with success.
00:10 And we couldn't do it without the Desert Financial Credit
00:13 Union and this young man right here,
00:15 Jeff Mishy, who is the present CEO of the credit union.
00:19 Jeff, how awesome.
00:21 Again, making sure kids are getting the tools to succeed.
00:24 Another great year, huh?
00:26 It was great, Brad.
00:26 Thanks for having us.
00:27 And we really enjoyed it.
00:29 We set a new record with 6,000 backpacks
00:33 delivered across Central and Northern Arizona.
00:36 Yeah, $20,000 was donated and put together with this.
00:40 And not only that, you guys also had your different branches
00:44 collecting toys--
00:46 not toys, gifts.
00:46 I'm so used to us doing the toy drive, but collecting supplies.
00:49 Yeah, and they all got to select a Title I
00:52 school in their area to give the supplies to.
00:56 And it was a great success, as you said.
00:59 Yeah, up north was awesome going up there
01:01 and how you guys are bringing new branches up there.
01:04 So you guys want to be a big part of the community.
01:06 So I know the Prescott branch did some work,
01:08 but not just in Prescott, but up into the Flagstaff area, too.
01:11 Yeah, and they're so appreciative up there
01:15 of the support.
01:16 And we're happy to do it.
01:18 Let's talk about how important the Desert Financial Credit
01:21 Union is to the community.
01:22 Because one, it was started by teachers.
01:24 So they know firsthand how important these supplies are
01:27 to the students, don't they?
01:28 They do.
01:29 And I think all of us as parents really appreciate it as well.
01:32 As well as the teachers, because what generally
01:34 happens if the kids don't have adequate supplies,
01:37 the teacher's going to come out of pocket
01:39 and pay for stuff for themselves.
01:42 So we hate to see that.
01:43 Right, and we know that even you guys see that.
01:47 And even though these teachers are pretty much supposed
01:50 to be on break, they're actually working over the summer
01:52 at times to save money so they can get the supplies.
01:55 They have accounts right there at Desert Financial Credit Union
01:57 to start school supplies.
01:59 And I think that's where you started to say, you know what?
02:01 We really got to step up as the credit union community
02:04 and help out not just the teachers, but students, too,
02:06 and everybody.
02:07 Yeah, and I've got kids and grandkids.
02:09 And we go shopping every year.
02:11 And things have gone up, as we all know.
02:15 So this year was really important to support.
02:19 And Desert Financial is getting ready to celebrate
02:21 our 85th birthday next year.
02:24 We were founded by 15 school teachers back in 1939.
02:28 So we remain true to that legacy of supporting
02:32 education and children.
02:34 Yeah.
02:34 Jeff, what I love about you is that you're not just
02:36 the head of the credit union.
02:41 You're also a person that comes and helps.
02:43 That's what's so important, because you're
02:45 a leader that says, if I'm going to lead this group,
02:49 I need to come be a part of it.
02:50 And you're out there with us, stuffing backpacks and working.
02:53 Well, and this year I brought our chairman of our board out.
02:56 He was out there with us as well.
02:58 And it was great to be at Dave and Buster's.
03:00 They were so accommodating.
03:02 And always great to see people from AZ7 and other companies
03:06 that supported it.
03:07 So Desert Financial, very happy to support a cause like this
03:11 and see everybody come together to do good.
03:13 Yeah.
03:14 All right, we're going to switch gears
03:15 from us giving the success of the supplies to the kids
03:19 for tools.
03:20 But let's talk about what Desert Financial Credit
03:22 do financially tools for those students who are starting
03:25 maybe their first job and maybe even just families
03:28 about getting financial education.
03:31 You guys have there, don't you?
03:32 Yeah, absolutely.
03:33 And we've kind of coined a new term, financial wellness,
03:36 which is something you'll hear a lot more about in the months
03:39 to come.
03:40 But we do want to make sure people
03:42 are literate about their finances,
03:43 that they have help in things like budgeting.
03:46 And we continue to support classes and things
03:50 like that on our website.
03:52 Yeah, Jeff, I'll tell you, we can't say enough.
03:54 And I stumbled and said about toys and gifts
03:57 because you're also a big part of our Christmas drive
03:59 that we do here.
04:00 And we can't say thank you enough for everything
04:02 you are doing and your team for the families in the community.
04:06 Because that's what Desert Financial Credit Union
04:08 is all about, right?
04:09 I can't wait to get out to the zoo in 50 degree temperatures,
04:12 Brad.
04:12 That'll be awesome.
04:13 Yeah, it will be.
04:13 Jeff, thanks for stopping by.
04:14 And again, thank you to Desert Financial Credit Union
04:16 for helping us stuff the bus with back to school supplies
04:19 for those kids in need.
04:21 So we thank you.
04:21 We're happy to do it.
04:22 There you go.
04:23 You want more information about our Stuff the Bus drive,
04:25 you can log on to aztv.com/stuffthebus.
04:28 Stuff the Bus.
04:30 [BLANK_AUDIO]