Big donation, bigger impact: Credit unions in the community
October 15, 2018 4:23 PM
$200k+ raised for children's hospital
The Minnesota Credit Unions for Kids committee raised $234,829 for the Children’s Miracle Network hospital in Minnesota, Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare.
Studying abroad
TBA Credit Union, Traverse City, Mich., awarded its annual Study Abroad Scholarship to Paige Hamel of Northern Michigan College. Hamel, a Freshwater Science major, will travel to Limon Province, Costa Rica, for two weeks to work with the community and Earth University.
Vicki Erickson
Combatting cancer
TopLine FCU, Maple Grove, Minn., partnered with the American Cancer Society in the fight against cancer by participating in the inaugural "Together vs. Cancer" campaign. Employees and members donated in increments of $1, $3, $5 or more and received a "Together vs. Cancer" pin-up to post in a TopLine branch showing their support.
Junior Achievement donation
Plymouth, Minn.-based TruStone Financial FCU, its employees, and the TruStone Financial Foundation teamed up to donate nearly $12,000 and 40 volunteer hours to Junior Achievement of the Upper Midwest, Inc.
Coloring for autism
St. Joseph, Mich.-based United FCU’s branch in Hendersonville, N.C., held a coloring contest to raise awareness of autism, and $790 to benefit St. Gerard House. UFCU also donated $770 to the Logan Center in Michigan to support its “You Color, U Donate” contest.
New locations
Winston-Salem, N.C.-based Truliant FCU opened its second Member Financial Center in Asheboro, N.C. The 3,200 square-foot branch is located in the Oakie Mountain Shopping Center near Food Lion, about 3.5 miles from Truliant’s current branch on East Dixie Drive.
And the winners are...
Vantage West CU, Tucson, Ariz., announced the winners of its Thrive Tucson Business Spotlight contest: the Rialto Theatre Foundation, QMULATIVE and Borderlands Brewing Company. Each won the opportunity to be featured on the Vantage West-sponsored social media community spotlight segment. The contest supports local businesses.
Skeeters make an appearance
TDECU, Lake Jackson, Texas, sponsors the Sugar Land Skeeters baseball team. During a caravan tour to promote the team’s season, the Skeeters made a stop at the TDECU Service Center in Sugar Land. The Skeeters Community Development team and Swatson, the team’s mascot, handed out Skeeters gear and took pictures with TDECU employees.
1,600+ new members
San Antonio-based Security Service FCU welcomed 1,673 military members to the Military Saves initiative during the Defense Credit Union Council’s annual campaign.
New student wellness programs
State Employees’ CU, Raleigh, N.C., and its SECU Foundation contributed $200,000 for SECU MATCH Pilot, a new student wellness program in partnership with East Carolina University. Four public middle schools in two northwestern counties are slated to participate.
Law enforcement teams up with media, community
Robins Financial CU, Warner Robins, Ga., presented Macon Regional Crimestoppers with a donation to the 12th annual David Pierce Memorial Law Enforcement Dinner. The event is designed to partner law enforcement, the community and media to help keep people safe.
Just shred it
Oregon State CU, Corvallis, Ore., held a free document shred day for the community in the parking lot of the Benton County Fairgrounds. The event included support from the Corvallis Police Department and its community education effort toward combating identity theft, plus an option to donate canned or other non-perishable food items to Linn Benton Food Share. Separately, the CU awarded $2,000 Tomorrow’s Leaders Today scholarships to 10 local high school senior members of the credit union attending an in-state college or university this fall.
High School Takeover
San Diego County CU and Channel 933 teamed up to give students at Bonita Vista High School an unforgettable day. As part of the SDCCU High School Takeover, the school won a private performance from one of today’s hottest emerging recording artists, In Real Life.
Awards are in
Scott CU, Edwardsville, Ill., won several awards, including first place in three categories of the Illinois CU League’s annual state-wide awards competition: youth financial education, social responsibility and credit union philosophy in action. In addition, SCU won a Diamond Award for marketing from the CUNA Marketing & Business Development Council.
37th annual convention held
Corporate Central CU, Muskego, Wis., held its 37th annual meeting at the KI Convention Center in Green Bay, Wis. The event ran in conjunction with the Wisconsin Credit Union League’s Annual Convention and supported the League’s collaborative theme of “Move in Concert.”
Scholarly pursuits
Peach State FCU, Lawrenceville, Ga., announced the winners of more than $158,000 in scholarships and educational grants, including 23 $2,000 Career Advancement Scholarships, were awarded to members, nine $2,000 Legacy Student Scholarships, and 16 $2,000 school system and community honoree scholarships.
U.S. Army Museum coming soon
Redstone FCU, Huntsville, Ala., donated $50,000 toward the National Museum of the United States Army. The museum will sit on 84 acres at Fort Belvoir, Va., and will artifacts, documents, images, and selections from the Army Art Collection that tell the complete story of the U.S. Army since its founding in 1775. It is expected to open in 2020. Artist’s rendering courtesy of the U.S. Army.
Grad prep
PSECU, Harrisburg, Pa., awarded a laptop, carrying bag, Microsoft Office license and printer to the four graduating senior participants of the School of Business & Industry Prep Program at Harrisburg High School to help them on their journey toward future success. Separately, PSECU awarded six scholarships valued at up to $8,000 each, for a total of $48,000, to HS seniors.
Run for a cause
Employees of Redwood CU, Santa Rosa, Calif., contributed $45,000 to local nonprofits by sponsoring, fundraising and participating in Human Race events in Sonoma and Mendocino Counties. More than 120 volunteers, including employees, family and friends, walked or ran. Separately, RCU was ranked the second healthiest credit union in the U.S. by Glatt Consulting’s Credit Union HealthScore, which measures credit union strength and growth.
Nusenda named top workplace
For the sixth year in a row, Nusenda CU, Albuquerque, N.M., was named by its employees as a “Top Workplace” in New Mexico. This year, it also took the No. 1 spot in the medium-sized company ranking, based on a survey conducted by the Albuquerque Journal and Energage.
Statewide book drive
Naveo CU, Somerville, Mass., collected more than 200 books as part of its Children’s Book Drive. Each year, Naveo participates in a statewide book drive spearheaded by the Cooperative CU Association. Over the past seven years, Naveo has collected nearly 2,000 books.
Shred that paper
Each year, New England FCU hosts free, open-to-the-public Shred Fest events at its main branch in Williston, Vt., to help people protect themselves against identity theft by destroying documents containing sensitive financial information. At this year’s Spring Shred Fest more than 35,000 lbs. – or more than 17 tons – of documents were destroyed.
Northwest FCU reps baseball team
Northwest FCU, Herndon, Va., signed a partnership deal with the Potomac Nationals that includes the naming of Northwest Federal Field at Pfitzner Stadium. Along with field naming rights, the CU now is the “Official Credit Union” of the Potomac Nationals.
Two years strong
Ohio HealthCare FCU, Dublin, Ohio, received the Dora Maxwell Social Responsibility Community Service Award for the second year in a row for its We Care Loan program, which has raised more than $23,000 for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals since its inception in 2016.
Jefferson Awards recognized
Leaders CU, Jackson, Tenn., hosted the Jefferson Award Foundation Luncheon, honoring local Jefferson Award recipients. The Jefferson Award Foundation honors community champions who are “ordinary people doing extraordinary things without expectation of recognition.”
