SECU Foundation Grants $3 Million to North Carolina Community Foundation

North Carolina Community Foundation President/CEO Jennifer Tolle Whiteside (left) receives a ceremonial check from SECU Foundation Board Chair Jo Anne Sanford. As part of a shared $10 million commitment of the $45.19 billion, Raleigh, N.C.-based State Employees’ Credit Union and the State Employees’ Credit Union Foundation to provide COVID-19 disaster relief, an additional grant has been made – this time to support local non-profit organizations in communities across North Carolina. The SECU Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization funded by the contributions of members of SECU, announced a $3 million grant to the North Carolina Community Foundation (NCCF). NCCF is a grant making foundation that provides small-dollar awards to sustain and grow non-profits in underserved communities in North Carolina. The $3 million grant is comprised of two pieces – a $2 million general purpose grant that will help NCCF provide assistance to community non-profits through its North Carolina Healing Communities Fund, and a $1 million challenge grant that will help NCCF raise the additional capital needed to meet the goals of the Healing Communities Fund. The fund will focus on small-dollar grants to local non-profits that provide services in health care, human services, housing and education.

From left to right, Teller Support Specialist Brandi Wells and Downtown Member Service Center Teller Supervisor Amanda Grohs of the $1.6 billion, Rapid City, S.D.-based Black Hills Federal Credit Union, and Deb Berg, volunteer coordinator for the Cornerstone Rescue Mission, show off donated blankets. Each year, BHFCU participates in the Cornerstone Rescue Mission’s Share the Warmth Blanket Drive. For health and safety reasons, BHFCU collected monetary donations this year and used the total amount raised to purchase 42 new blankets, pillowcases and sheets. These items were donated to the Cornerstone Rescue Mission to be distributed among the Black Hills area homeless. In addition, BHFCU recently presented a check for $500 to the Black Hills Special Services Cooperative for the purchase of a wheelchair scale to be used at the Sturgis Main Office School. The wheelchair scale will immediately benefit at least five students who use a wheelchair for mobility and require regular weight checks.

Workers with The Salvation Army of McAllen, Texas, which has adapted to the pandemic by coordinating services via a mobile platform, help provide crucial meals to those most in need.  The Security Service Charitable Foundation, the charitable arm of the $10 billion, San Antonio, Texas-based Security Service Federal Credit Union, recently donated $5,000 to The Salvation Army McAllen/Hidalgo County. These funds will be used to feed 2,500 hungry individuals and families throughout Hidalgo County in Texas. In addition, it will help provide disinfecting and sanitizing products to keep The Salvation Army’s Emergency Shelter residents healthy and safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The $874 million, Katy, Texas-based Brazos Valley Schools Credit Union recently donated $6,640 to the Houston Food Bank, following up on a promise made to its members after a recent auto promotion. The credit union conducted a six-week auto loan promotion in August and September with a promise to donate $10 for each booked and funded loan. The end result was 664 new auto loans on the books. Houston Food Bank Community Engagement Coordinator Lorena Avillaneda received the donation on behalf of the food bank, along with a large number of canned and non-perishable food items donated from BVSCU staff. Pictured from left to right in the back row are BVSCU Membership Development Representative Frank Mena and BVSCU vice president of operations Diane Diavis. Seated in the middle row from left to right are BVSCU President/CEO Yvonne Kershner and Avillaneda. In the front row from left to right are BVSCU vice president of lending Chelsea Wooten and BVFCU SVP of IT Jim Fletcher.

Thanks to a recent $2,500 donation from the $1.37 billion, Medford, N.Y.-based Suffolk Federal Credit Union to Community Housing Innovation’s (CHI) Homeownership Counseling & Education Program, CHI has been enabled to continue its efforts to empower and support families interested in homeownership throughout New York’s Suffolk County. The White Plains, N.Y.-based CHI offers a counseling and educational program for first-time homeowners, and down payment and closing cost assistance for income-eligible households on Long Island, N.Y., as well as for those in Westchester and the Hudson Valley. Pictured from left to right are Toni Ajello, assistant vice president of mortgage lending for Suffolk Federal; Julie Stern, director of homeownership services for CHI and Michele Dean, president/CEO for Suffolk Federal.

On Nov. 2, the $253 million, York, Pa.-based First Capital Federal Credit Union donated items to support the West York Area School District Bulldog Pantry. The food drive was held in the month of October and items were donated by First Capital staff and members. The Bulldog Pantry supplies needed items to families and students in the school district the first Thursday of each month. And, Life Skills class students work at the pantry to learn valuable lessons on the value of hard work and supporting those in need. Pictured from left to right are Danny, a student; Amanda Burt, Life Skills Support teacher for the school district; Sue DeStephano, president/CEO for First Capital; Henry, a student; and Traci Stauffer, director of special education/pupil services for the school district.

Please send your Community news items to Natasha Chilingerian at nchilingerian@cutimes.com.