November 23, 2011 - MAX held an online ticket bid for two tickets to the 2011 Iron Bowl. A congratulations goes to winner Trae Edwards! Trae's top bid of $735.00 will go to the MAX4Kids Foundation.

Trae Edwards, winner of two Iron Bowl tickets

(Prattville, Ala.) — The MAX4Kids Foundation, sponsored by MAX Credit Union, recently hosted its 12th annual Charity Golf Tournament at the Robert Trent Jones (RTJ) golf course in Prattville, Ala.

For the second year in a row, the tournament set a new record for fundraising. The tournament hosted 175 players on RTJ's Legislator and Senator courses, and more than 127 corporate sponsors and players together raised over $33,000 for the MAX4Kids Foundation.

"The annual Charity Golf Tournament is the foundation's largest fundraiser of the year," said MAX4Kids Foundation President D.G. Markwell. "Through MAX4Kids, fantastic organizations and individuals who serve our community are able to make a huge impact on the children in the River Region."

Carts are lined up and tournament players hit a few practice swings as the early-morning sun peeks from behind the clouds at the MAX4Kids Charity Golf Tournament.

The MAX4Kids Foundation assists children in the River Region through scholarship programs and donations to various charitable organizations. For the past 12 years, the Foundation has donated more than $531,900 to children's charities and has distributed more than $200,000 in college scholarships to deserving high school seniors.

Past recipients of donations from the MAX4Kids Foundation include: Common Ground Montgomery, Character at Heart, Children's Hospital, Kid One Transport and S.T.E.P. Foundation.

On May 5, 2011, the MAX4Kids Foundation recognized ten graduating seniors from the River Region by presenting each with a $5,000 MAX4Kids Scholarship. A committee of area college educators met and chose the following ten scholarship recipients based on scholastic achievement, extra-curricular activities, qualities of character and leadership, and essay responses.

Matthew Berube - Alabama Christian Academy
Jake Clark - Montgomery Catholic Preparatory High School
Zachary Gentle - Loveless Academic Magnet Program
Jordan Holley - Eastwood Christian School
Michael Knotts - Eastwood Christian School
David Mallett - Alabama Christian Academy
Jacqueline McNeilly - Loveless Academic Magnet Program
Trey Poppell - Loveless Academic Magnet Program
Casey Stephenson - Loveless Academic Magnet Program
Russell Willoughby - Loveless Academic Magnet Program

Back row L to R: Matthew Berube, Michael Knotts, Jake Clark, Zachary Gentle, David Mallett, MAX4Kids Foundation President D.G. Markwell Front Row L to R: Trey Poppell, Russell Willoughby, Casey Stephenson, Jordan Holley, Jacqueline McNeilly

Since 2001, the MAX4Kids Foundation has awarded $200,000 in scholarships to 110 high school seniors from the River Region.

The MAX4Kids Foundation made a contribution to Character at Heart February 23, 2011. While Pam Morgan, the executive director of Character at Heart, conducted a teacher's workshop at the MAX Eastdale Branch, MAX4Kids Foundation President D.G. Markwell and new Board Member Kenneth Hill surprised her with a $5,000 check. Markwell said, "We are so excited to be a part of the character building curriculum in our local schools. Our employees work hard to provide you with funds to help build strong character in our communities. We appreciate so much your commitment to our kids."

(L to R): MAX4Kids Foundation President D.G. Markwell, Board Member Kenneth Hill and Character at Heart Executive Director Pam Morgan

MAX would like to thank its associates who dedicated their time, energy and resources to make the Merry Market and Bake Sale possible. MAX also extends its gratitude to the vendors who provided a delightful shopping experience.

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.

Benjamin Akers - East Memorial Christian Academy
Amanda Kathryn Curvin -The Montgomery Academy
Jake Preston Hemminger - Evangel Family Christian Academy
Kurt Kamena - East Memorial Christian Academy
Kourtney Keck - Lovelace Academic Magnet Program
Angela Knotts - Eastwood Christian School
Timothy Marion - Eastwood Presbyterian School
Lauren Robertson - Lovelace Academic Magnet Program
Rebekah Stephenson - Prattville High School
Aaron Wine - Wetumpka High School

Back row L to R: Aaron Wine, Jake Hemminger, Ben Akers, Kurt Kamena, MAX4Kids President Wayne Blackwell. Front Row L to R: Angela Knotts, Amanda Curvin, Rebekah Stephenson, Kourtney Keck, Lauren Robertson. Not pictured: Timothy Marion

The MAX4Kids Foundation has awarded $150,000 in scholarships to high school seniors in the River Region since 2001.

The 10th Annual MAX4Kids Charity Golf Tournament was held on Wednesday, October 21st and raised over $42,500 through golf sponsorships and mulligan sales. MAX associates volunteered to run the event while 157 golfers showed up to play on the Legislator and Senator courses at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail in Prattville.

Present at the tournament was LPGA Hall of Famer, Pat Bradley, who ran The MAX4Kids ‘Girls on the Green' clinic the day before the tournament. 'Girls on the Green' 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 MAX4Kids Charity Golf Tournament is the largest fundraising event for the MAX4Kids Foundation. A special thanks goes out to the golfers, volunteers, and donations that helped make this year's event a great success.

Back by popular demand this year was the MAX4Kids Merry Market. The market took place at the MAX Eastdale branch auditorium on October 9th. Members were lined up at the door at 7:00 a.m., waiting for the market to open. Goods for sale included a mixture of homemade arts and crafts and brand name items such as the Pampered Chef.

Booth proceeds from vendors go to the the MAX4Kids Foundation.

MAX associates engaged in some friendly competition to see who could raise the most money for the MAX4Kids Foundation by selling candy bars during July. The winner is from MAX's Downtown branch, selling 1,341 candy bars! The total funds raised through the event were just under $12,000 and will be used to support children's charities in the River Region.

A special thank you goes out to MAX associates who worked hard to sell the candy bars and to members who satisfied their sweet-tooth cravings by purchasing candy bars at MAX!

The MAX4Kids Foundation recognized ten graduating seniors from the Central Alabama River Region by presenting each student with the $2,000 MAX4Kids Scholarship. A committee of educators selected the following ten recipients based on their scholastic achievements, extra-curricular activities, qualities of character and leadership, and essay responses:

Matthew Dean - Saint James School
Ashley Joyner - Fort Dale Academy in Greenville
Katrina Kessler - Loveless Academic Magnet Program High School
Sabrina Lynn - Wetumpka High School
Nathan Marion - Eastwood Christian School
Anna McKoy - Loveless Academic Magnet Program High School
Austen Parrish - Prattville High School
Bethany Pate - Evangel Christian Academy
Jenaé Steele - Loveless Academic Magnet Program High School
Samuel Sumner - Eastwood Presbyterian School

From L to R:
MAX President & CEO Greg McClellan, Samuel Sumner, Katrina Kessler, Nathan Marion, Anna McKoy, Austen Parrish, Bethany Pate, Matthew Dean, Ashley Joyner and MAX4Kids Board of Directors President Wayne Blackwell. Not pictured: Sabrina Lynn, Jenaé Steele.

The MAX4Kids Foundation donated $5,000 to the Children's Hospital in honor of Reyn Amos, daughter of the MAX Roundtable's Doug Amos, and Amber Mote, niece of MAX associate Tom Ashworth.



Doug Amos of the MAX Roundtable with wife, Karla, and daughter, Reyn.

The MAX Roundtable held its first big event during the week of Thanksgiving to benefit the MAX4Kids Foundation. Bids on two Iron Bowl tickets were accepted through myMAX.com. The winning bid was announced live on the MAX Roundtable Friday, November 28th during the show at Salsarita's restaurant on Vaughn Road. MAX members of Prattville had the winning bid of $400. All ticket-bidding proceeds benefit the MAX4Kids Foundation.

The MAX4Kids Foundation Board presented a check for $5000 to the Montgomery River Region Friends of AMBUCS Chapter. AMBUCS provides converted bicycles and tricycles to disabled children and adults to aid in physical therapy, help them get around easier, and to just have fun. The funds enabled AMBUCS to purchase, build and donate bikes and trykes to seven local area children.

MAX4Kids bought toys and other items to give to families for Christmas through the Family Sunshine Center’s Holiday Adoptions program. The Family Sunshine Center helps provide for over 400 families each year with the generous support of the community. MAX continues to be one of the largest contributors to the Family Sunshine Center during the holiday season.


MAX associates pose for the camera with the gifts they purchased for the Family Sunshine Center's Holiday Adoptions program.