SANDY, Utah, March 19, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mountain America Credit Union and the Utah Jazz are pleased to announce that Children’s Service Society of Utah is this season’s fifth and final recipient of “Pass It Along,” a program featuring fan-nominated opportunities that reward five local charitable organizations with $5,000 each. With this month’s donation, the “Pass It Along” program has now contributed $155,000 to local charitable organizations since its inception in 2013.

Increased drug use, abuse, neglect, and poverty has left many Utah children in high-risk circumstances. Over 38,000 children in Utah are currently being raised by a grandparent or relative. Children’s Service Society of Utah empowers families and caregivers through services that support the safety and well-being of children. The organization promotes quality childcare through the following programs: Adoption; Grandfamilies Kinship Care; Care About Childcare; and Home Visitation.

“The ‘Pass It Along’ award covers the cost to serve 30 low-income, high-risk families – 83 individuals – in our Home Visitation program for approximately one month,” says Casey Mason, community outreach coordinator of Children’s Service Society of Utah. “Each family receives individualized support and mentoring at no cost to them. Services enhance parenting skills, and improve the children’s safety, healthy development, and life outcomes.”

Earlier this month, Mountain America Credit Union president and chief executive officer, Sterling Nielsen, visited Children’s Service Society of Utah’s headquarters in Salt Lake City to learn more about their programs and their positive impacts on families in the community. “Children’s Service Society of Utah provides vital resources for at-risk children suffering from prenatal drug disorders, congenital disease, pre mature birth, and parental abuse or neglect,” Nielsen says. “Their kinship care, adoption, and home visitation programs help protect the rights of vulnerable children and ensure they are raised in suitable homes.”

Mountain America presented a $5,000 check to Children’s Service Society of Utah at the March 16, 2019 Utah Jazz game.

Throughout the season, fans were encouraged to nominate local charitable groups that they felt went above and beyond in giving back to the community via www.utahjazz.com/passitalong. One winner was announced each month, from November through March 2019, for a total of $25,000 donated to five deserving organizations during the 2018-19 campaign. This season’s previous “Pass It Along” recipients were Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah, Operation Underground Railroad, Continue Mission and A New Dawn.

About Mountain America Credit Union
With more than 800,000 members and $8.5 billion in assets, Mountain America Credit Union assists members on the right path to help them identify and achieve their financial dreams. Mountain America provides consumers and businesses with a variety of convenient, flexible products and services, as well as sound, timely advice. Members enjoy access to secure, cutting-edge mobile banking technology, over 90 branches across five states, thousands of shared-branching locations nationwide and more than 50,000 surcharge-free ATMs. Mountain America—safely guiding you forward along your financial journey. Learn more at macu.com.

About the Utah Jazz
Founded as the 18th member of the National Basketball Association (NBA) in 1974, and located in Salt Lake City since 1979, the Utah Jazz are committed to excellence as a team and in the community. On the court, the Jazz are the second-winningest team in the NBA over the last 30 years, having won nine division titles and two Western Conference championships along with 15 seasons of 50-plus wins, and are supported by one of the most passionate fan bases in all of sports. The Jazz are part of Larry H. Miller Sports & Entertainment that includes Megaplex Theatres, Vivint Smart Home Arena, The Zone Sports Network, NBA 2K Jazz Gaming, NBA G League Salt Lake City Stars, Tour of Utah professional cycling stage race and Triple-A Salt Lake Bees baseball

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/fa552483-837c-452d-a3cd-ab64289391de