(Montgomery, Ala.) — MAX Credit Union hosted the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce's December business breakfast this morning.

More than 125 professionals from businesses and organizations across the River Region attended the networking event, held at MAX's Eastdale Financial Center on Eastdale Circle in Montgomery.

Montgomery Chamber Board Chairman Larry Puckett welcomed the guests. MAX President and CEO Greg McClellan also spoke. McClellan, who serves on the Chamber board of directors, provided an overview of the financial products and services available at MAX. He also highlighted MAX's long-standing commitment to the Montgomery community, as showcased by its sponsorship of the Montgomery Biscuits, the Hampstead Institute Downtown Farm and the new MAX branch inside Lanier High School.

"MAX has been a part of this wonderful community since 1955," said McClellan. "All of us at MAX are committed to helping Montgomery and the River Region continue to be a great place to live, work and do business."

MAX Credit Union celebrated the grand opening of the River Region's first student financial center inside Sidney Lanier High School on Wednesday, September 28.

The fully-operational MAX branch is open two mornings per week to serve the students, faculty and staff of Lanier High School. The branch is staffed by Lanier students and managed by MAX professionals.

The financial center is part of a hands-on learning environment in the Finance and Business Academy based at Lanier. The branch gives students real-world money management experience, helping them develop life skills to put them on track for career options after high school. In addition to earning school credit for working at the branch, students also have the opportunity to participate in the creation of marketing materials for financial products and services offered there.

Representatives from MAX Credit Union, the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce, Montgomery Public Schools and the City of Montgomery help MAX President & CEO Greg McClellan (center, holding scissors) cut the ribbon for the grand opening of the new MAX Credit Union student financial center inside Lanier High School.

MAX partners in the endeavor are Montgomery Public Schools and the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce Career Academies Task Force.

"This is an investment in our kids, our community and our economy," said MAX President and CEO Greg McClellan. "We believe this is an opportunity for the students to acquire the real knowledge, skills and self-confidence necessary to reach and exceed whatever goals they set for their future."

Montgomery Public Schools' Superintendent Barbara W. Thompson is pleased with MAX's involvement at Lanier High School. "This is an amazing opportunity for our students, [and] MAX is an outstanding community partner," said Thompson. "Opening this branch in Lanier will give the students in our Finance and Career Academy the chance to see firsthand the practical application of some of what they are learning in the classroom. We are so grateful to MAX for seeing the potential for students, and investing the time and resources into making this a reality."

Children are the world's most valuable resource and its best hope for the future.
- John Fitzgerald Kennedy

MAX believes in the former president's remarks and in the children of the River Region. That's why MAX was honored to invest in our most valuable resource, our children, by providing several computers to Jeff Davis High School in Montgomery and Prattville Christian Academy in Prattville. The computer donation gives these schools the ability to update old and in some cases nonexistent technology.

Computer donations have also been made to Georgia Washington Junior High School, Garrett Elementary, and Peter Crump Elementary.

Pictured L to R: Cheryl Fountain, Jeff Davis High School Principal, Chenique Jeffress, MAX associate and Angela Johnson, Jeff Davis High School teacher

The MAX bowling team

The MAX team, comprised of MAX associates and their families, won first place in the team division. MAX associate and team member, Jerry Stephenson, was also awarded the top bowler in the individual division for the second year in a row.

Goodwill Industries meets the diverse needs of individuals, including youth, seniors, veterans, immigrants, and those with disabilities, criminal backgrounds and other specialized needs. The organization inspires hope and self-confidence, making assisted individuals feel successful, valuable and dignified.

To learn how you can become involved with Goodwill Industries, please contact Kristen Sherer at (334) 323-8230 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

The new branch will be staffed by Lanier students and managed by MAX professionals. In addition to earning school credit for working at the branch, Lanier students will be given the opportunity to participate in the creation of marketing materials for financial products and services offered there.

The "hands on" approach of the Business/Finance Career Academy will give the students real-world money management experience, at the same time providing them with a chance to develop life skills and put them on track for career options after high school. The Business/Finance Career Academy is one of seven high school academies established throughout the Montgomery Public School System whose primary goal is "keeping kids in school and preparing them for life".

MAX President and CEO Greg McClellan states: "This is an investment in our kids, our community and our economy. We believe that this is an opportunity for the students to acquire the real knowledge, skills and self-confidence necessary for them to reach and exceed whatever goals they set for their future."

Fresh Fridays is open 4 - 6 p.m. each Friday during the growing season and is located at the corner of Commerce Street and Tallapoosa Street. Join the Hampstead Institute's Farmer Anne and Farmer Jetson along with other local farmers, artisans and musicians from the community. For a listing of local farmers and a schedule of events, visit Fresh Fridays on Facebook.

The Millbrook Farmers Market is open 3 - 6 p.m. on Tuesdays now through August 31 and is located on the corner of Main Street and Grandview Road. Call Chuck Burns at 334.569.2932 or download a schedule of events in PDF format here for more information.

MAX is excited for the opportunity to support local farmers that bring healthy, affordable and fresh eating options to the River Region. Visit myEcoMAX.com for a listing of farmers markets in the River Region.

In its 13th year, the Funky Junk Art Contest is an annual citywide competition for artists and imaginative dreamers of all ages. To qualify, contest participants were required to create an original work of art composed only of used materials and/or recycled goods.

More than 100 pieces of art were entered in this year's competition. Participants ranged from age 5 to adult, with both individuals and groups submitting entries. View photos of the art at myEcoMAX.com.

The winners of this year's competition include:

Kindergarten - 3rd Grade Division
First Place - Matthew Ketner
Second Place - Amanda Crittenden
Third Place - Hannah Parrish
Honorable Mention - Maddox Milton
Honorable Mention - Gia Paolini

4th - 6th Grade Division
First Place - Bryan Miles
Second Place - Abigail Stinson
Third Place - Maddie Olszewski
Honorable Mention - Shelby Collins
Honorable Mention - Hera Logan

7th - 9th Grade Division
First Place - Taylor Meadows
Second Place - Chloe Rickards
Third Place - Gabrielle Pohlman
Honorable Mention - Landon Archer
Honorable Mention - Anwesha Guha

10th - 12th Grade Division
First Place - Colman Bradwell
Second Place - Gibbs Lee
Third Place - Walden Walker
Honorable Mention - Austin Richert
Honorable Mention - Deborah Bonner

Adult Division
First Place - Mona Dunson
Second Place - Maurice Hammonds
Third Place - Evelyn Shoults
Honorable Mention - Quinnard Smith

Group Division - Youth
First Place - Sarah Bush, Kenya Foster, Rachael Fry, Kristin Mays
Second Place - Nicholas Boswell, Sandrea Frazier, Thornton Rudolph, Antinea Smith,
Cameron Waller, Heather Weafer,
Third Place - Ankelica Barrera, Laclisha Jones, Markia Rogers
Honorable Mention - Megan Foshee, April Phothisane
Honorable Mention - Natalie Poppell, Sara Shear

Group Division - Adult
First Place - McInnis School, Room 6
Second Place - McInnis School, AAC Group Project
Third Place - McInnis School, Room 7
Honorable Mention - McInnis School, Room 3

Grand Prize Winner - Aaron Stinson

About EcoMAX
MAX Credit Union, through its EcoMAX efforts, is committed to helping people and improving the quality of life for everyone in the River Region. EcoMAX encourages citizens to participate in community-wide efforts like the Funky Junk Art Contest as part of their efforts to live sustainably.

About the Montgomery Clean City Commission
The mission of the Montgomery Clean City Commission is to educate and motivate Montgomery residents to take action for a cleaner environment and a more attractive city. The MCCC has been active in promoting recycling in addition to offering a variety of programs to promote a cleaner Montgomery. This is the MCCC's 13th year to sponsor the Funky Junk Art Contest.

"Today's youth need to learn basic financial management skills," says Jackson. It is a privilege for us at MAX to provide an avenue of learning so these students can be successful at managing their money now and through adulthood."

For a similar presentation for your class or community organization, please contact Donna Jackson at (334) 398-0088 or Rebecca Thomas at (334) 398-0164.

Several MAX associates joined together to participate in the March of Dimes 2011 March for Babies walk on April 30, 2011. The March of Dimes is an organization committed to improving the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. More than half a million families every year are affected by premature birth.

MAX team at the 2011 March for Babies walk

MAX, through the EcoMAX Sustainable Living initiative, partnered with the Hampstead Institute and the City of Montgomery to bring a working urban farm to Montgomery's downtown. The Downtown Farm's ribbon cutting ceremony was held April 26, 2011. The farm will provide organically grown produce to local restaurants and grocery stores. Community beds will be available for Montgomery residents to grow vegetables of their own. MAX donated the funds needed for the farm's cistern that will be used for irrigating.

Cistern at the Downtown Farm sponsored by MAX.

EcoMAX at Hampstead Farms was Friday, April 29 and Saturday, April 30. The FREE event featured exhibits, demonstrations and workshops showcasing the latest sustainable living options.

On Friday, more than 90 students from Montgomery's Johnnie Carr Middle School came to the event for a field trip experience. The seventh and eighth graders had the opportunity to take a guided tour of the farm, listen to a presentation on the importance of pollination by honeybees, and visit each exhibitor for a small-group learning experience.

On Saturday, Montgomery-area residents and businesses cleaned out their closets and storage areas, bringing household items, clothing and electronics to recycle. Ecovery, the sponsor of the electronics recycling drive, estimates 7,000 pounds of e-scrap was collected. The televisions, printers, computers and other items collected will be dismantled and recycled, keeping reusable materials such as plastic, glass and aluminum out of local landfills.

Auburn Wins the MAX Capital City Classic.

Auburn beats Alabama with a final score of 2 to 1. Visit MAXCapitalCityClassic.com for more information.

View your photos taken at the MAX Capital City Classic at BiscuitsBaseball.com »

MAX recognized Joy to Life for its vision in advocating free mammograms and early detection of breast cancer for medically underserved women less than 50 years of age in 29 South Central Alabama counties.

Joy to Life co-founder Joy Blondheim was diagnosed with breast cancer in April 1997. Immediately after surgery and during eight months of chemotherapy treatments, she considered herself a survivor. Throughout her experience, she felt a calling to help the many women in our community who did not have the necessary resources for early detection and treatment of breast cancer.

Since its inception in 2001, Joy to Life has provided free mammograms to more than 1,700 women. Through its partnership with the Alabama Department of Public Health's Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program, many of these women have received successful treatment and can now call themselves survivors.

The MAX Community Reception is an annual event that brings together business, political, and community leaders to celebrate community successes and recognize organizations and individuals who have made a significant difference in the quality of life in the River Region.

Previous recipients of the MAX Community Achievement Award include Pastor Edward Nettles, Sr., the Montgomery Biscuits, Hyundai Motor Manufacturing of Alabama, the 754th Electronic Systems Group, the Joint Forces Headquarters Alabama National Guard, the Alabama Wildlife Federation, and the Montgomery Campus of Troy University.

MAX Credit Union President and CEO Greg McClellan (right) presents the MAX 2011
Community Achievement Award to Joy to Life founders Dickie and Joy Blondheim.

The MAX4Kids Foundation is a non-profit organization that was created in 2001 by MAX associates as a way to give back to our community. Proceeds from vendor booth space sold at the Merry Market and items sold at the branch bake sales will go to supporting local children's charities in the River Region.

MAX is proud to announce that it will be present The Reggie Barlow Show on Saturday mornings at 10:00 a.m. CST on local cable networks.

"Football is an important part of life here in our community and MAX is pleased to sponsor The Reggie Barlow Show and to bring a new awareness to the valued tradition of ASU football," said MAX CEO Greg McClellan.

Alabama State University Head Football Coach Reggie Barlow will highlight the Hornet's previous week on the gridiron. Coach Barlow will also bring his years of professional football experience with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Oakland Raiders, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (where he won a Super Bowl) and coaching expertise to the show. The Reggie Barlow Show broadcast on channel 16 for Knology subscribers and on channel 3 for Charter subscribers. CBS 8 Sports Director Dee Jackson will host the show, bringing the excitement of the Black & Gold to ASU fans.

MAX associates showed members that they can serve great food and great financial services on Friday, May 28, 2010! The Taylor Road Branch kicked off Memorial Day weekend with free grilled hotdogs and all the trimmings as a way for MAX to say ‘thank you' to everyone who has chosen MAX for checking, savings and loans. Doug Amos and Josh Moon of Sports Radio 740 AM hosted The MAX Roundtable, from Noon - 2 p.m. at the Taylor Road branch, followed by a MIX 103 remote hosted by JT and Leanne from 3 p.m. - 6 p.m. MAX is planning more events for members in the coming months at other MAX branches! Check out our myMAX.com calendar and Facebook page for more!

(L to R): Doug Amos and Josh Moon of The MAX Roundtable

(L to R): MAX associate Allen Garrett and The MAX Roundtable intern Danielle

AUBURN Wins MAX Capital City Classic.

Auburn beats Alabama with the final score of 8 to 6. Visit MAXCapitalCityClassic.com for more information.

View your photos that were taken during the game by MAX Moments at BiscuitsBaseball.com!

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January 21, 2010 - MAX honored Pastor Edward Nettles, Sr. with the 2010 MAX Community Achievement Award for his vision in advocating the ‘Enough is Enough' campaign to put an end to the violence in our community. MAX believes in supporting our local community and recognizing the efforts of those individuals and organizations that make our communities a better place to live. The MAX Community Reception is an annual event that brings together business, political, and community leaders to celebrate community successes and recognize organizations and individuals who have made a significant difference in the ‘quality of life' in the River Region.

For many years, Pastor Nettles worked with the court system to try and provide a second chance for teens introuble by mentoring them and offering hope. One day he came up with the idea in the courtroom for ‘Enough is Enough'. Instead of working with children once they were in trouble, he began proclaiming a message to "Stop the

(L to R): MAX CEO Greg McClellan, Beverly Nettles (wife of Pastor Edward Nettles) and Pastor Nettles with the 2010 Community Achievement Award.

Violence." The campaign is now in its third year and is growing each day. ‘Enough is Enough' is led by Pastor Nettles and a group of men who call themselves "Coaches". The Coaches go into crime-ridden neighborhoods and invest their time in people. They build relationships with the community, educating children and teens about making good decisions, and offering hope to those who need it.

MAX President and CEO Greg McClellan remarked, "MAX is honored to present Pastor Nettles with the 2010 MAX Community Achievement Award. Pastor Nettles' vision for the ‘Enough is Enough' campaign is truly making a difference in our community. The campaign strives for a better Montgomery and believes in the difference it is making in the lives of those it touches."

Previous recipients of the MAX Community Achievement Award include The Montgomery Biscuits, Hyundai Motor Manufacturing of Alabama, the 754th Electronic Systems Group, the Joint Forces Headquarters Alabama National Guard, the Alabama Wildlife Federation, and the Montgomery Campus of Troy University.

The MAX4Kids Foundation, through MAX Credit Union, hosted a golf clinic featuring LPGA Hall of Famer Pat Bradley on Tuesday, October 20th at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail in Prattville, Alabama.

The MAX4Kids ‘Girls on the Green’ clinic was designed for young girls ages 8-12, who desired to learn more about the game of golf.

Twenty girls participated in the clinic, including a local Girl Scout troop from the Prattville area earning their merit badges for athletics.

The ‘Girls on the Green’ clinic was a wonderful way to pair young girls interested in golf with the opportunity to learn from an LPGA Hall of Famer. Bradley was named to the LPGA Hall of Fame in 1991 and has won 31 tournaments, including six majors, and has earned more than $5.7 million on the LPGA tour. Bradley said, “One of the proudest moments that I have from my golf game is finding ways to give back. I am honored to be in Montgomery with MAX4Kids. I am here in a very small part to play and meet with people, but more importantly to give back what this game has given to me, and to try and help other youngsters get prepared for bigger things in life.”

The MAX4Kids Foundation was not only honored to have Pat Bradley facilitate the golf clinic, but also to have her contribute to the 10th Annual MAX4Kids Charity Golf Tournament on Wednesday, October 21st. Bradley played during the charity tournament on a team with Aileen Meredith and Taaj Hubbard from the Alabama State University golf team in Montgomery, Alabama.

The MAX4Kids Charity Golf Tournament on Wednesday, October 21st raised over $42,500 through golf sponsorships and mulligan sales. The MAX4Kids Foundation assists children of the Central Alabama River Region through scholarship programs and donations to various charitable organizations. The Foundation has donated over $378,000 to children’s charities, and has distributed $120,000 in college scholarships for deserving high-school seniors.

LPGA Golf Hall of Famer Pat Bradley teaches young girls the right technique for gripping the golf club, during the MAX4Kids Girls on the Green Golf Clinic.	Pat Bradley works with Alabama State University Golfer, Aileen Meredith, to sink the put during the MAX4Kids Charity Golf Tournament.

EcoMAX and the City of Montgomery kicked off the Cans for Cash^TM Recycling Challenge. Cans for Cash is a national contest that rewards cities for recycling used aluminum beverage cans. Montgomery is competing against other cities of similar size for twelve $5,000 awards to further encourage and educate citizens on community-wide recycling programs. Awards will be presented to the top four cities collecting the most tonnage of aluminum cans as well as to cities that have the most innovative ideas to promote aluminum can recycling.

The MAX Eastdale branch will serve as the collection site for the recycling event from October 1 - 31, 2009. The collection bin will be located in the parking lot of MAX's Eastdale Branch. Visit myEcoMAX.com for aluminum can drop off times.

Montgomery Chief of Staff Jeff Downes speaks at the Cans for Cash kickoff on behalf of Mayor Todd Strange.

The EcoMAX partnership with Cans for Cash is encouraging Montgomery residents to choose a more sustainable lifestyle and participate in a nationwide recycling effort that could result in cash for our city.

Sponsored by The United States Conference of Mayors, Novelis Corporation and Keep America Beautiful, Inc., the Cans for Cash City Recycling Challenge was created in 2005 to encourage and assist U.S. cities with their sustainable recycling efforts.

MAX competed for the third year at the Alabama Wildlife Federation's Tri-County Wild Game Cook-off. Tom Ashworth, Director of Building Services, led the "MAX Gone Wild" team in preparing mouth-watering dishes in the Wild Game and Fowl categories. MAX Gone Wild worked diligently to prepare both dishes but the tomahawk venison steaks were the highlight of the evening, placing third in the Wild Game category. The steaks were stuffed with sautéed mushrooms, onions, and blue cheese and served with garlic mashed potatoes and steamed asparagus.

The Alabama Wildlife Federation (AWF) is the oldest and largest non-profit conservation organization in Alabama. The AWF was established by sportsmen in 1935 to promote the conservation and wise use of our wildlife and natural resources and to ensure a high quality of life for future generations of Alabamians. Its mission is to promote the conservation of Alabama's wildlife and related natural resources, as a basis for the social and economic prosperity of present and future generations, through wise use and responsible stewardship of our wildlife, forests, fish, soils, water, and air.
Source: www.alabamawildlife.org


MAX Gone Wild Team (left to right): Ed Grimes, Joe Hyatt, Tonya Catrett,
Kenneth Hill, Rebecca Thomas, Bo Randall, and Joe Andrew.


Left to Right: MAX associates Rebecca Thomas and Tom Ashworth

Third place dish - tomahawk venison steak prepared by MAX Gone Wild


Left to Right: MAX associates Bo Randall and Joe Hyatt

Several MAX associates joined together to participate in the March of Dimes 2009 Walk for Babies at the Riverwalk Amphitheatre. The March of Dimes is an organization committed to improving the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. More than half a million families every year are affected by premature birth.

The faces of the Jordan family lit up when MAX Senior Vice President DG Markwell surprised them with a $10,000 check estatablishing a $2,500 savings account for each of the Jordan children, Brittany, Miles, Shan and Keiunta. MAX established the accounts for the family in conjunction with the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition show which aired Sunday, April 12, 2009, on ABC.

The Jordan family visits MAX's West Montgomery branch to open savings accounts.