ACU Foundation

Welcome to the ACU Foundation!  The ACU Foundation is a non-profit 501c3 organization chartered in 2019 with the mission of enhancing the lives of military members, South Sound residents, and their families.

Donate to the ACU Foundation

The ACU Foundation is a non-profit 501c3 corporation. Our tax ID number is 37-1918275. The ACU Foundation is located at PO Box 5060, Dupont, WA 98327.

Turkey Shoot Golf Tournament

Throughout the past 20 years, the Turkey Shoot Golf Tournament has raised over half a million dollars for Joint Base Lewis-McChord [JBLM] charities, such as Santa’s Castle and the Holiday Assistance Program. The foundation hopes to increase contributions to the tournament this year with the added benefit of a tax deduction.

Learn more about Turkey Shoot

2023 Year in Review

Message from the Chairman

In 2023, the ACU Foundation had a somewhat transformative year. We expanded our reach and impact by providing support and resources to more families and communities in need. Through our dedicated board of directors and volunteers we initiated several partnerships that aim to address the mental health struggles of service members and veterans.
All in all, 2023 was a successful year for the ACU Foundation. Our fundraising efforts and the generosity of our members and community allowed us to supply beds and bedding to veterans working with local organizations to manage their mental health. We provided funds to these organizations to pay for Mental Health providers for our service members in need. Over $60K was spent on making sure that our service members and their families are supported and healthy.
The ACU Foundation stands poised to continue making these lasting impacts and advocating for our service members and their families in 2024.

Respectfully,
Amber Young
Chairman, ACU Foundation

To request assistance please use the application for aid below.

Application for Aid

If you are interested in volunteering, please email acufoundation@youracu.org

Meet Our Board

Amber Young

Chairman

Amber Young is the Community Engagement Specialist at ACU and a native of Thurston County. Amber began her career with America’s Credit Union in 2009 where her position allowed her the opportunity to help members reach their financial goals.

In 2011, Amber took a position in the Marketing Department at ACU where she helped members on a personal level and worked within the community to help support nonprofits, servicemembers and businesses in our area.

Amber is currently the President of the DuPont- Steilacoom subchapter of the Association of the United States Army, holds position on the Yelm Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and is involved with multiple committees working with local businesses to bring value to our communities.

With the help of her colleagues and ACU Business Partners, Amber coordinates the ACU Annual Charity Golf Tournament, The Turkey Shoot. This tournament raises an average of $50,000 for Joint Base Lewis McChord charities and has been held since 2000. The success of this tournament has led to the creation of the ACU Foundation. As Chairman, she and the other members of the board will raise funds to improve the lives of all of our community members.

Dan Nicholson

President

Dan Nicholson, a native of the Tacoma area and a graduate of the University of Washington, started his company Dzines, after years of research and strategic planning. He formed the idea after experiencing a multitude of entry-level and professional careers including healthcare, restaurants, hospitality, and criminal justice to name a few. During this time Dan realized the importance and the need for quality products and services to help businesses, teams and organizations grow. Today, we are supported by a network of sales professionals and product manufacturers with decades of experience in virtually every trade imaginable.

Joshua Howen

Vice President

Joshua Howen is a Board member for the ACU Foundation. When he was 19 years old, Joshua became a “Big Brother” for the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. This sparked his desire for serving his community. Joshua found himself wanting to do more for his community, country and himself and joined the military as a Military Policeman. After his service, Joshua found a new way to engage in the military community through serving on the Washington Council of Trout Unlimited as an executive board member who chairs their Veterans Service Partnership for the State of Washington. Joshua loves spending time exploring the PNW, fishing and hiking with his children. Joshua is excited to further his passion for helping veterans, service-members and their families through his position with the ACU Foundation.

Nick Parsons

Treasurer

Nick Parsons was born and raised in Yelm. Nick attended Washington State University where he received a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration and is currently pursuing a master’s in accounting at Eastern Washington University. With fifteen years of mortgage lending experience, he knows what it takes to purchase a home, and is well versed in the difficulties consumers may experience when trying to do so. As a frequent volunteer in the Yelm area, he is involved with All Kids Win, 10 Weeks of Summer, Yelm Dollars for Scholars, Prairie PTO, and the Thurston County Youth Football League.

Phil Prothero

Board Member

Phil Prothero is the Chief Operations Officer at America’s Credit Union.  During his 10-years at ACU he has managed branch operations, training, call center, facilities and other areas temporarily during organizational changes.  With 16 years of combined banking experience, Phil previously worked for a school district in grant management and human resources.  He graduated from Central Washington University and has completed programs in Human Resources, Strategic Management, and Sales and Service training.  He is passionate about member service and serving the communities ACU is a part of.

Wayne McCarten

Board Member

A Thurston County Native, Wayne has been the General Manager of Uptown Lounge in Yelm, WA, since 2018. With more than 20 years of restaurant experience, the position of GM has come natural to him. A bachelor’s in business studies from Washington State University has also come in handy with these endeavors. Wayne also has a passion for helping others. Through his work with the Keg Spirit Foundation, he has raised over $35,000 to support people in need, including families with a loved one battling leukemia. A proud supporter of our Armed Forces, Wayne hopes to bring his charitable experience to the ACU Foundation and make strides in improving the quality of life for the service members of JBLM.

Bill DeVore

Board Member

Bill DeVore joined the ACU Foundation as a Board Member in 2024. Owner of the 507 Taproom in Yelm, WA, Bill is no stranger to hosting charitable events. Bill frequently hosts charitable functions at his location in Yelm and is passionate about supporting our Service Members. “Many of the folks who come through in Yelm are Veterans,” says Bill. “Providing them a place to relax, unwind, and forget about the stress they are under when protecting our country is the main mission of 507; a mission we do not take lightly. I am excited to be on The Board for The ACU Foundation so that I can continue to support our troops locally.”