ING DIRECT USA Lends a Helping Hand to Local YMCA and Salvation Army

ST. CLOUD, Minn., Aug. 24, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Associates at ING DIRECT USA, the nation's largest direct bank, believe strongly in giving back to their communities. On Thursday, August 25, 340 volunteers from the Bank's St. Cloud office will spring into action rehabilitating and renovating the St. Cloud Area Family YMCA and The Salvation Army St. Cloud Worship and Service Center. The projects are part of ING DIRECT's fifth annual Orange Days of Giving and just two of the fifteen volunteer projects this summer to be completed by ING DIRECT Associates nationwide.

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"ING DIRECT believes that while no one person can do everything, everyone working together can accomplish great things," said Brian Myres, ING DIRECT USA's Head of Sales. "During our Orange Days of Giving the Associates take great pride in their work to transform the physical structures and landscape of our Community partners."

Half of the 340 ING DIRECT Associates will be sent to The Salvation Army St. Cloud Worship and Service Center to create a new playground, build a pavilion, and install new indoor flooring. The remaining Associates will be sent to the St. Cloud Area Family YMCA to restore and revitalize the playground as well as tackle an extensive interior painting job. Projects that would typically take months, even years to complete, ING DIRECT Associates plan to knock out in just one day.

To date, ING DIRECT Associates throughout the East Coast, Midwest and West Coast locations have dedicated more than 64,000 hours during the Orange Days of Giving toward charitable causes that support the Bank's mission of assisting communities through economic empowerment, financial education and life skills.

The St. Cloud Area Family YMCA

Established in 1969, the St. Cloud Family YMCA has a rich tradition of being a key contributor in the community for family health and fitness programs. It is a non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring access to quality facilities and programs regardless of gender, age, race, religion, or a family or child's ability to pay. The St. Cloud Area Family YMCA serves over 5,000 youth and families and works in partnership with over 60 community organizations and non-profits to expand program offerings through all possible means.

The Salvation Army St. Cloud Worship and Service Center

The Salvation Army first came to the St. Cloud area in 1896. The Salvation Army in St. Cloud provides relief to those individuals who find themselves in need of emergency food, shelter or clothing, and spiritual counseling without regard to an individual's race, color, creed, sex, age or religion. Local programs and services provided by the St. Cloud Salvation Army include a food shelf, emergency shelter, community lunch program, rental assistance, utility assistance, nutrition education classes, and a free eyeglasses program.

About ING DIRECT USA

ING DIRECT, the nation's largest direct bank and largest thrift, is dedicated to inspiring Americans to become a nation of savers. Since its inception in 2000, more than 7.7 million Americans have entrusted their savings with ING DIRECT, building the bank to nearly $91.4 billion in assets.  ING DIRECT has developed a comprehensive social media Savers Community, including Twitter, Facebook and its We, The Savers blog.  For more information about ING DIRECT call 1-800-ING-DIRECT, and for information about its commitment to financial education visit Planet Orange(SM).  

Style note to Editors: ING DIRECT is always capitalized and never referred to as ING.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Brenda Dean, ING DIRECT USA
(302) 255-3696
[email protected]

SOURCE ING DIRECT USA