Credit Unions Support the Arts, Food Banks & the Homeless

Representatives from the $1.4 billion, Plymouth, Mich.-based Community Financial Credit Union unveil an installation featuring works by Detroit artist Tony Roko (in background, right of center) at CFCU’s home office in Plymouth. CFCU recently partnered with Roko and his Art Foundation for the launch of phase two of the Plymouth ArtWalk program. As the official sponsor, CFCU donated $50,000 in support of the program, which will beautify unused spaces in downtown Plymouth with 10 interactive art installations by Roko. So far, two installations have opened in CFCU’s home office, and the remaining eight, planned for completion by April, will be located in the downtown Plymouth corridor’s alleyways. The project will feature interactive opportunities for the community to engage with the artwork, including a QR code that directs to information about the artwork, Roko’s background, a podcast-style audio tour and more.

Drema Isaac, president/CEO for the $309 million, Clinton Township, Mich.-based FreeStar Financial Credit Union (sixth from right) and FreeStar Financial staff present $10,000 to FreeStar Financial member Matt P. (holding check), at the credit union’s Shelby Township, Mich., location. Matt was the winner of FreeStar Financial’s $10k Giveaway promotion, in which all members who applied for and closed on a qualifying home equity line of credit or mortgage loan of $25,000 or more during the promotion period of Aug. 1 to Nov. 30, 2022 were automatically entered for a chance to win the grand prize.

One Nevada Credit Union ($1.3 billion, Las Vegas) recently raised $1,500 for Southern Nevada’s Three Square Food Bank. During One Nevada’s annual fall shred day, Las Vegas residents donated 300 pounds of food and $750 for the safe shred of their unwanted documents; the credit union matched the donation, bringing the total to $1,500. At Three Square, $1 provides three meals, meaning One Nevada’s donation will fund more than 4,500 meals. Pictured from left to right are Three Square Marketing Outreach Specialist Will Edwards and One Nevada Marketing Specialist Toni Marie Flowers.

The SECU Foundation, the charitable arm of the $52.1 billion, Raleigh, N.C.-based State Employees’ Credit Union, provided the Hospitality House of Northwest North Carolina with a $40,000 grant to help expand programs and services to help the homeless in Northwest North Carolina. Last year, the non-profit provided over 147,000 meals and approximately 40,000 nights of housing, counseling and critical services to those in need. Pictured are Hospitality House Executive Director Tina B. Krause and Hospitality House Chief Development Director Todd Carter (holding check from left to right) with representatives from SECU and the SECU Foundation.

The $4.1 billion, Laurel, Md.-based Tower Federal Credit Union recently donated $5,000 to FISH of Laurel, a volunteer-run food pantry and meal kitchen. Tower’s donation will be used to purchase nonperishable food items, bag lunches and kitchen supplies. Pictured from left to right are Al Smith, Tower’s SVP and chief experience officer; Rhonda Pierce-Brooks, Tower’s vice president/director of human resources; Stephanie Hammond, president, board of trustees and volunteer coordinator for Elizabeth House/FISH of Laurel, Inc. and Tom Poe, Tower’s vice president/director of marketing and business intelligence.

OnPoint Community Credit Union ($9.1 billion, Portland, Ore.) and its employees recently donated $62,181 to four United Way chapters serving Oregon and Southwest Washington. The donation was made as part of OnPoint’s 16th annual employee-led fundraising campaign, benefiting United Ways in communities served by the credit union. Employees raised $52,181, which was combined with a $10,000 corporate contribution from OnPoint. Each year, OnPoint invites its more than 1,000 employees to make voluntary individual contributions to United Way through fundraisers such as Virtual Bingo, candy grams and a Ducks vs. Beaver contest. OnPoint’s donation will help fund health, housing and financial stability programs that provide kids and families with equitable opportunities to build a good quality of life. Pictured from left to right are Erin Hurley, internal communications specialist for OnPoint; Nicole Rose, senior manager, corporate partnerships for United Way of the Columbia-Willamette and Mary Kay Sosa, executive administrator for OnPoint.

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