Whitefish Credit Union Junior Board Hosts Dog Show

Whitefish, MT, May 15, 2013 --(PR.com)-- Can anyone resist the combined cuteness of happy puppies and smiling children? Whitefish Credit Union’s junior board of directors hope not.

The seven Whitefish High School students who make up the Credit Union’s junior board will host an “Odd Dog Show” at Whitefish’s Hugh Rogers Whitefish Animal Group (WAG) Park Sunday, May 26. The free, family-friendly event will feature several competitive canine categories including best trick(s), a dog and owner look alike contest, and best in show, while also promoting financial education and community service among young people, said Sue Schenck, Whitefish Credit Union’s business development director.

“Each year we task our junior board of directors with a community service project,” said Schenck. “I think this year’s project is a great way to engage with the community while teaching about a credit union and sharing money management strategies with our local young people. Our theme is, ‘you train your dog, we’ll train your money!’ We’ll be offering great financial tips for elementary and middle school students, but we hope their parents will find value in the information as well.”

Registration and check-in for the event will begin at noon, with the competition starting at 1 p.m. Pre-registration forms are available inside Whitefish Credit Union at 300 Baker Avenue in Whitefish until May 22. Included in the registration packet are several Credit Union information flyers regarding money management for a variety of ages and a complimentary dog bone for the canine competitors.

Tommy Murphy, a Whitefish High School junior on the Credit Union’s junior board of directors, said the group wanted to create a unique and fun event which still met the Credit Union’s goals of teaching financial literacy and how a credit union works.

“My goal for this community service event is for the younger kids throughout the valley to come and participate in our day of family fun, and while doing so they can pick up some information about their future and present financial endeavors with the help of our Whitefish Credit Union flyers,” he said.

The Hugh Rogers WAG Park opened in June of 2009 and has since become a favorite local spot for dog owners to give their pets off-leash time in a safe environment, according to James Lockwood, WAG president since 2011. Lockwood said he was impressed to see local high school student taking an active interest in their community and welcomes the attention for the park.

“Support of local businesses, such as Whitefish Credit Union, has been critical to the conception, implementation and ongoing maintenance of this park since inception. The WAG dog park is the culmination of donations of time, sweat and money by local businesses and the people of Whitefish, beginning with the initial conceptual work first begun in 2006.”

Donations are welcome at all Whitefish Credit Union locations and all proceeds from the event will go directly toward the Hugh Rogers WAG Park. For more information, visit your local Whitefish Credit Union or call toll-free at (877) 862-3525.

About Whitefish Credit Union:
Whitefish Credit Union is a respected leader in the financial services industry. State chartered in 1934, it has gone on to become the largest credit union in Montana with more than $1 billion in assets. Today, the Whitefish Credit Union manages six branches throughout the state, which serve the financial cooperative’s more than 50,000 members.