Instead of opening gifts this year, MSU Federal Credit Union (MSUFCU) members and the community opened their hearts during the Credit Union’s annual Giving Tree initiative with local nonprofit organizations across Michigan.

Employees, members, and the community collectively donated 735 gifts toward this year’s Giving Tree partners, helping to provide holiday gifts to 151 individuals throughout the communities served by the Credit Union. This is a significant increase from last year when 220 gifts were collected for more than 100 families.

MSUFCU’s annual project to help make the holidays brighter for children and families ran from Nov. 1 through Dec. 1. The public could select gift tags from the Giving Tree displays at every full-service MSUFCU branch. Each tag contained one or more individual wish list items to purchase. The new, unwrapped gifts and tags were returned to the branch by Dec. 1 for distribution.

This year, MSUFCU partnered with Child and Family Charities of Lansing, Michael’s Place grief support center of Traverse City, Neighborhood House of Oakland County, American Indian Health & Family Services of Detroit, and Comprehensive Therapy Center of Grand Rapids to distribute the gifts to local families.

“This is one of our favorite initiatives as our collective participation reinforces one of our core philanthropic pillars ? supporting and strengthening the communities we serve,” said Arianna Ridderbusch, MSUFCU’s Vice President of Community Impact. “The Giving Tree embodies the Credit Union’s philosophy of people helping people, enriching lives, and spreading joy in the true spirit of the season.”