Jacksonville, Fla. (Source: Shutterstock)
The Jacksonville, Fla.-based VyStar Credit Union introduced the VyStar Foundation on Wednesday, which will be the credit union's philanthropic arm in the communities it serves across Florida and Georgia. The Foundation's mission: Do Good.
The VyStar Foundation, according to the credit union, will focus on collaborative partnerships to support youth, military members and veterans, as well as "community vitality."
VyStar's SVP and president of the VyStar Foundation, Patricia McElroy, said, "VyStar Credit Union's purpose is to Do Good. That simple phrase describes the spirit of philanthropy that is deeply embedded in our organization. It inspires our teams in all that we do, whether we're serving our members, volunteering with non-profit organizations or donating to community partners who share in our commitment to improve the places we call home."
According to the VyStar Foundation, grants will be available to 501(c)(3) organizations whose purposes align with one of the Foundation's three strategic giving pillars:
1. Military: Ensuring military members, veterans and their families receive the social services they need and the recognition they deserve.
2. Youth: Empowering youth by providing equitable access to creative learning environments.
3. Community Building: Cultivating financially strong, culturally vibrant and interconnected communities.
Each strategic pillar will have its own grant cycle. The VyStar Foundation opened its first grant cycle on Wednesday, which will be opened to nonprofits supporting active military, veterans and their families.
McElroy added, "We have seen the incredible power of what we can accomplish when we work together for a common good. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to lead VyStar Foundation to further expand VyStar's dedication to the community."
VyStar President/CEO Brian Wolfburg said he has high hopes for the Foundation. "VyStar Foundation's launch will take our philanthropic efforts to new heights. As VyStar continues to grow across Florida and Georgia, the Foundation will serve our new and existing communities, help us build important relationships with community leaders and support organizations that make a difference each and every day."
The Foundation will be run by a volunteer board of directors, which includes the following people: SVP/VyStar Foundation President Patricia McElroy; VyStar President/CEO Brian Wolfburg as chairman; VyStar EVP/COO Chad Meadows as treasurer; VyStar Chief Marketing Officer Dana Karzan as secretary and VyStar Board Secretary Diane Fears.
Soon, community members from the VyStar field of membership will also fill positions on the Foundation's board.
VyStar has assets of more than $13.6 billion and 866,032 members, according to the latest NCUA Call Report.
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Michael Ogden
Editor-in-Chief at CU Times. To connect, email at [email protected]. As Editor-in-Chief of CU Times since 2016, Michael Ogden has led the editorial team in all aspects of content strategy and execution, including the creation of the publication’s exclusive and proprietary research database of the credit union industry’s economic landscape. Under Michael’s leadership, CU Times has successfully shifted to an all-digital editorial product with new focuses on the payments, fraud, lending and regulatory beats. Most recently, he introduced a data-focused editorial product for subscribers that breaks down credit union issues into hard data, allowing for a deeper and more factual narrative for readers. In 2024, he launched the "Shared Accounts With CU Times" podcast, which offers a fresh, inside-the-newsroom perspective through interviews with leaders from the credit union industry and the regulatory world. He dives into pressing credit union issues, while revealing the personalities working behind-the-scenes to push the credit union world forward. His background includes years as a radio and TV anchor/reporter and a public relations and digital/social media manager, where he covered the food and music industries, as well as cooperatives and credit unions. Over the years, he has launched numerous exclusive video and podcast series, including a successful series of interactive backstage interviews with musicians at music festivals, showcasing his social media and live streaming production skills.
