Ascentra’s Holiday Auto Loan Promotion Raises $24,300 for Local Salvation Armies

Through its annual Ride 50 auto loan promotion, Ascentra Credit Union and its members raised $24,300 for local Salvation Army Corps in 2023.

Each year, beginning Oct. 1 and ending Dec. 31, Ascentra gives $50 cash to the borrower and donates $50 to a local charity with every new qualifying auto loan or refinance processed. In 2023, these donations were given to one of four Salvation Army regions depending on the borrower’s choice. This past holiday season, Ascentra’s nine branches processed 286 auto loans which raised a total of $14,300. The five branches in the Quad Cities raised $10,350, the Moline branch raised $1,700, the Muscatine branch raised $1,000 and the two branches in Clinton raised $1,250.

Along with the money raised through the promotion, Ascentra’s board of directors approved an additional $10,000 towards the overall donation. “Food insecurity and shelter needs continue to grow in our communities,” said Linda Andry, President and CEO, Ascentra Credit Union. “There is no better time than now to dig deep and support local organizations who are already making an impact in these areas. Our leadership and board felt led to give more to help make an even bigger impact this holiday season.” Combined, Ascentra’s total contribution to the Salvation Army in 2023 was $24,300.

The partnership between the Salvation Army and Ascentra started in 2019, when the Salvation Army was selected as the beneficiary of the Ride 50 holiday auto promotion that year. Since then, they have partnered for this promotion three additional times in 2021, 2022 and 2023.  “The Salvation Army of the QCA made a call for help to make a difference, and our community answered generously at the red kettle,” said Maj. Robert Doliber, The Salvation Army’s Quad Cities Coordinator. “Volunteers rallied, and partners such as Ascentra Credit Union propelled us to the top of the goal ($750,000), to meet the ever-increasing needs for our services.”

Over the years, Ascentra’s partnership with the Salvation Army has introduced its members and community to all the services that the Salvation Army provides through awareness campaigns, video productions and staff volunteering. “Our partnership with the Salvation Army continues to grow,” said Andry. “Now Ascentra’s staff looks forward to bell ringing and helping to raise funds through our Ride 50 promotion each year. It’s becoming a tradition in our company culture.”

Since 2019, Ascentra’s Ride 50 holiday auto loan promotion and its members have generated more than $76,000 to support The Salvation Army and its initiatives. In recognition of this partnership, the Salvation Army presented Ascentra Credit Union with a framed certificate during a lunch reception at Ascentra’s home office on Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2024. The certificate read as “This certificate is awarded to Ascentra Credit Union in grateful recognition of your continued support, the Salvation Army of the Quad Cities, January 24, 2024.”

Photo Caption:
Members of Ascentra’s executive team present corps officers from The Salvation Army of the Quad Cities, Moline, Muscatine and Clinton with a check representing the donations generated through its annual Ride 50 auto loan promotion. Pictured left to right are; Shelly Ridgeway, EVP and COO, Ascentra Credit Union; Kelle Larned, Program and Operations Director, The Salvation Army Quad Cities; Jennifer Naeve, SVP and CMO, Ascentra Credit Union; Patty Mixdorf, Development and Volunteer Coordinator, The Salvation Army Quad Cities; Maj. Rae Doliber, Corps Officer, The Salvation Army Quad Cities; Major Jason T. Pollom, Corps Officer, The Salvation Army Moline; Maj. Robert Doliber, Quad Cities Coordinator and Corps Officer, The Salvation Army Quad Cities; Mike Rudy, Chairman Advisory Board, Muscatine Salvation Army and wife JoAnn Rudy; Susan Sharp, Directory of Ministry & Operations, Salvation Army 360 Life Center, Clinton; Christian Marcussen, Chief Technology & Innovation Officer, Ascentra Credit Union; Linda Andry, President and CEO, Ascentra Credit Union; and Beth Grabin, Chief Financial Officer, Ascentra Credit Union

About Ascentra
Founded in 1950, Ascentra Credit Union is Iowa's premier credit union with more than $522 million in assets and nine branches serving the communities of Bettendorf, Clinton, Davenport, Muscatine, Iowa and Moline, Illinois. Learn more about Ascentra Credit Union at ascentra.org.  Follow Ascentra on Facebook (@ascentra), Twitter (@ascentra), Instagram (@ascentracu), TikTok (@ascentra) and on the Ascentra Credit Union YouTube channel. 

About the Salvation Army
The Salvation Army, an evangelical part of the universal Christian church, has been supporting those in need in His name without discrimination since 1865. Nearly 33 million Americans receive assistance from The Salvation Army each year through the broadest array of social services that range from providing food for the hungry, relief for disaster victims, assistance for the disabled, outreach to the elderly and ill, clothing and shelter to the homeless and opportunities for underprivileged children. Learn more about the Salvation Army at https://www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn/.