Credit Unions Give Back

Credit unions recently celebrated events such as a 5K, financial education at a local school, a day of service and scholarship presentations. Read on for highlights of what credit unions have been doing lately to support their communities.

Employees from the $2.9 billion Coastal Credit Union in Raleigh, N.C., fill backpacks with school supplies for middle school and high school students during the credit union’s Development Educators Day of Service. The credit union filled 50 backpacks and employees are planning on doing 50 more for younger kids. The backpacks will be made available to employees with children who need them for the start of the upcoming school year. Various departments at Coastal collected school supplies throughout the year, which were donated by employees. The credit union provided the bags. The annual project is part of our Coastal Cares program, which provides various forms of assistance to employees, and is supported by employee contributions.

Erin Ellis, accredited financial counselor at the $1.1 billion Philadelphia Federal Credit Union in Philadelphia, speaks with students about financial preparedness at Louis H. Farrell Elementary School during the school’s college and career day held on Wednesday, May 16. As part of PFCU’s financial education curriculum, Ellis presents financial seminars on a number of personal finance topics including budgeting, saving money, credit, identity theft and home buying to both PFCU members and Philadelphia-area community organizations. Ellis’ participation in the Louis H. Farrell Elementary School College and Career Day underscores PFCU’s commitment to serving as a community resource to those in the Philadelphia region.

As a way to help educate and support the future leaders in Alaska businesses, the Alaska Credit Union League donates $18,250 to Alaska Business Week. Pictured (from left) are James Wileman, president/CEO at the $1 billion Credit Union 1; Andy Rogers, executive director at Alaska BusinessWeek; Dan McCue, SVP of corporate relations at the $7.4 billion Alaska USA Federal Credit Union; Kyler Howlett, president at the $118 million Northern Skies Federal Credit Union; Jamie Tambornino, SVP of administrative development at the $663 million Denali Federal Credit Union and Chad Bostick, CFO at the $495 million Matanuska Valley Federal Credit Union. During Alaska Business Week, high school students learn the basics of private sector business and leadership skills to help them in future careers. The Alaska Credit Union League has been a supporter of Alaska Business Week since 2010, and in that time has donated more than $100,000 to help educate and support Alaska’s future business minds.

Participants of the Orion 5K pose for a picture. The $773 million Orion Federal Credit Union in Memphis, Tenn., hosted the inaugural Orion 5K benefitting Memphis hometown nonprofit St. Patrick Community Outreach. Two thousand runners and walkers participated in the June 9 event. Formerly known as the Gibson Guitar 5K, the all new Orion 5K continues the race’s tradition of benefiting St. Patrick Community Outreach, Inc., a Memphis-based 501 (c) (3) nonprofit that carries fresh fruit, vegetables, and other healthy foods to parts of the community that don’t have easy access to affordable, nutritious foods.

The $1.2 billion Hanscom Federal Credit Union in Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass., displays awards they received at the Marketing Association of Credit Unions Awards ceremony in San Diego, Calif. The credit union received a gold award in the market segment program for an educational program aimed at young adult borrowers called “The 20-Something’s Guide to Savvy Credit Card Ownership” for a credit union with more than $1 billion in assets. The credit union received two other marketing awards. These included a silver award for Hanscom’s “Driven to Educate” van design and a bronze award for the development of in-branch brochures.

The $147 million Advantage One Credit Union in Brownstown, Mich., awards academic scholarship checks to three local students (from left to right): Madison Litterell, Nicole Garland and Mykel Dolinski. Each student received a $2,500 scholarship and recipients were selected based on an essay competition with consideration given to their academic accomplishments and participation in both school and community activities.

The Adult Enrichment scholarship was awarded to Madison Litterell of Flat Rock. Madison is a current Concordia University student, studying biology, with aspirations of being a physician’s assistant. Nicole Garland, a current student at Woodhaven High School, was awarded the James Wood scholarship, which is specifically for AOCU members. Nicole has been accepted to Wayne County Community College to study business administration. Mykel Dolinski, a current student at Trenton High School, was awarded the Ronald Stamper scholarship. She will be attending the University of Michigan Ann Arbor, majoring in biochemical engineering.

Send your community-related event announcements, along with a photo to thayes@cutimes.com.