Lockheed Federal Credit Union employees are taking their service skills to the next level, volunteering to serve lunch and ice cream to more than 150 seniors at the Santa Clarita Valley Senior Center from 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. July 18.

At noon, the credit union will present a check for $4,500 to the senior center, located at 22900 Market St. in Santa Clarita.

"The Santa Clartia Valley Committee on Aging (and the) senior center are thrilled to be supported by LFCU," said Robin Clough, volunteer and recreation coordinator. "Because the senior demographic is growing exponentially, ensuring quality of life for our elderly has become a critical challenge. We are greatly appreciative and touched by the generosity of LFCU and its employees. Seniors and staff look forward with great anticipation to the fun events and volunteerism of their employees at the senior center."

LFCU is involved in the community, giving employees the opportunity to make contributions to chosen charities through regular payroll deductions, and to volunteer during their normal work hours. LFCU also provides a donation-matching program.

"The Santa Clarita Valley Senior Center provides important services to our community," said Phil Hart, chief operating officer for LFCU. "We look forward to showing our support by donating much-needed dollars to the senior center and providing employee volunteers."

LFCU employees will also host an opportunity drawing and distribute magnifiers for all seniors in attendance.

Patrick Bell of Opera Kadabra will be providing entertainment, www.operakadabra.com.

Established in 2008, LFCU's Volunteer-Time-Off Program allows employees to receive company paid time off to volunteer in the community.

Each employee can receive up to eight hours per year to volunteer during the work day. Throughout the year, LFCU employees organize volunteer opportunities to support LFCU Community Stars' nonprofit partners.

During the last few months, LFCU has been supporting the community through its nonprofit foundation, LFCU Community Stars.

In 2007, LFCU employees developed LFCU Community Stars to support local charities through financial donations and volunteerism. LFCU employees make contributions to sponsored charities through payroll deductions and special fund-raising events. Employees are able to volunteer during their normal work hours.

LFCU also offers a donation-matching program for employees who make contributions through payroll deduction. Additionally, LFCU Community Stars will launch programs aimed at the 100,000 members of LFCU in an effort to increase the Foundation's ability to help charities in the communities served by LFCU.

Every year, LFCU Community Stars foundation board selects charities to support, with final decisions being made by the Foundation's Board comprised of LFCU employees.

The four charities that were selected by the foundation's board to be supported in 2008 were Santa Clarita Valley Senior Center, Burbank Temporary Aid Center, Penny Lane and weSPARK Cancer Support Center.

More than 9,000 Lockheed Federal Credit Union members are residents of the Santa Clarita Valley, where th credit union operates three branches -Valencia Bouquet Canyon, Valencia Town Center and Stevenson Ranch.

In 2006 and 2007, Santa Clarita residents selected LFCU as the best credit union in the area, as reported by the Santa Clarita Valley Living Magazine.

LFCU recently received a five-star rating - the highest possible - from Bauer Financial, a source for unbiased, independent bank and credit union star ratings. The five-star rating validates that LFCU is safe, financially sound and operating well above its regulatory capital requirements.

Chartered in 1937, LFCU has more than 100,000 members. Membership is open to Southern California residents of more than 200 sponsor companies. Deposits in LFCU are federally insured by the National Credit Union Administration. LFCU is an equal housing lender.

For more information about LFCU, visit www.lfcu.com.