CU Summer Fundraising Benefits Affordable Housing, High Schools & More

The $2.3 billion, Vancouver, Wash.-based Columbia Credit Union donated $10,394.72 to the American Heart Association following fundraising for the organization’s Heart & Stroke Walk on May 20. Through employee-led fundraisers such as a chili cook-off and craft paper heart sales, Columbia CU’s Team Big Green was able to hit their $10,000 goal for the second year in a row before hitting the pavement on the day of the walk in their green shirts and sneakers. Pictured from left to right are Michelle Thor, Columbia CU’s vice president of outreach and social responsibility; Hannah Frey, AHA’s Heart & Stroke Walk development director; Colleen Boccia, Columbia CU’s SVP and chief marketing officer; Meredith Collett, AHA’s Heart & Stroke Walk senior development director and Teresa Wheeler, Columbia CU’s community outreach representative.

During the month of April, the $917 million, Leominster, Mass.-based Leominster Credit Union accepted donations of new and gently used children’s books at all of its locations as part of Children’s Book Month, which LCU has participated in for over 20 years. LCU employees also participated in Jeans Days to raise funds to purchase books. In total, LCU members and employees donated over 990 books, which were distributed to various organizations and schools including the MOC Child Care and Head Start Center in Leominster. Pictured from left to right are LCU President/CEO Barbara Mahoney, MOC’s Katie Komberg and LCU Consumer Loan Underwriter Linda Taratuta.

Horizon Credit Union ($2.1 billion, Spokane Valley, Wash.) recently donated $12,192 to Idaho affordable housing nonprofit NeighborWorks Boise, almost triple the credit union’s initial donation of $3,500. Additional funds came from a partnership with the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines through its Member Impact Fund, a matching grant program. NeighborWorks Boise plans to use the donated funds to help seniors remain in their existing homes by making modifications to increase livability and sustainability while providing regular maintenance and upkeep. Funds will also be used to expand the nonprofit’s HomeSharing Program, which helps facilitate compatible living arrangements for households with available space. From left to right: Ron Paucar with Horizon CU; Inga Hadder with NeighborWorks Boise; Gaby Blumenfeld, Amber Dolphin-King, Cassie Borges and Anthony Quinones with Horizon CU; and Mitchell Lee and Bud Compher with NeighborWorks Boise.

The $360 million, Saint Helens, Ore.-based InRoads Credit Union’s Team Up for Schools program recently raised more than $97,671 for three Oregon high schools. Now in its sixth year, the program encourages members to use a special, co-branded debit card featuring a mascot for one of the three schools. When members use their card for a purchase, InRoads contributes $0.05 to the member’s favorite school. The funds supported student and staff initiatives including field trips to enhance experiential learning, college credit opportunities and a stadium scoreboard. In addition, the funds provided students the opportunity to learn hand wood carving to make their own paddles in partnership with the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde. Since the program began six years ago, InRoads has raised $430,000 for local high schools. Pictured from left to right: Scappoose School District Superintendent Tim Porter, InRoads Marketing Supervisor Annette Pixley, InRoads President/CEO Nathan Cox and Scappoose High School Principal Jerimy Kelley.

Robins Financial Credit Union recently sponsored the Five Star Kevin Brown Russell Henley Celebrity Golf & Clays Classic by contributing $20,000 to the Rescue Mission of Middle Georgia. The Rescue Mission of Middle Georgia’s tournament, scheduled for Sept. 18-19, 2023, aims to raise funds to support the mission’s critical work in providing shelter, meals and rehabilitation programs to homeless individuals and families in need. From left to right: Pat Chastain with Rescue Mission of Middle Georgia and Amy Etheridge with Robins Financial.

The board of directors for the SECU Foundation, the charitable arm of the $50.7 billion, Raleigh, N.C.-based SECU, recently approved a new round of grants that began with funding for a Reinvest in Student Excellence Fellowship pilot with the North Carolina chapter of Teach for America (TFA NC). The Foundation’s $250,000 grant will support an expanded cohort for 50 to 100 RISE fellows with leadership development pathways and individual coaching for the 2023 program year. TFA NC launched the program in 2021 to improve teacher retention in underserved communities. Pictured holding the check from left to right are TFA NC Executive Director Dr. Monique Perry-Graves and SECU Foundation Board Hember Jennifer Haygood, surrounded by staff and board members of TFA NC and staff of SECU and the SECU Foundation.

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