Charitable CU Initiatives Target Burn Victims, College Programs & More

The Summit FCU sponsors a Syracuse, N.Y., food and music festival benefitting two nonprofits, among other news.

The Summit FCU

Representatives from The Summit Federal Credit Union ($1.2 billion, Rochester, N.Y.) and Tops Friendly Markets, Taste of Syracuse sponsors, gather on Aug. 2 in downtown Syracuse, N.Y., to present a check for $11,936.25 each to the two Taste of Syracuse festival beneficiaries: PEACE Inc. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Onondaga County and Sleep in Heavenly Peace. The Summit Federal Credit Union Taste of Syracuse, Central New York’s biggest food and music festival, welcomed an estimated 200,000 people over two days this past June. Produced by Galaxy Events, the festival featured hundreds of eateries and food trucks and non-stop music. Pictured from left to right are Twanda Christensen, vice president of marketing and community engagement for The Summit; John Bruzdzinski with PEACE Inc. Big Brothers Big Sisters; Kathleen Allen, senior manager of community relations for TOPS Friendly Markets; Carrie Wojtaszek, COO of Galaxy Events; Christin Vincent, Syracuse regional director for The Summit; Carolyn Brown, executive director of PEACE Inc.; Jeff Pitt with Sleep in Heavenly Peace; and Chanel Mallory, Erie Blvd Branch manager for The Summit.

Affinity Plus FCU

Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union ($4.1 billion, St. Paul, Minn.) recently partnered with Joy Collaborative, an Affinity Plus member and nonprofit dedicated to creating comfortable and independent environments for children with life-limiting conditions, to open a “Joy Room” – a welcoming and non-clinical space for children and families recovering from burn trauma – at the Firefighters for Healing Transitional Healing Center in Minneapolis. Pictured from left to right in the Joy Room are Affinity Plus Director of Operations Jaqueline Twedt, Affinity Plus Senior Quality Control Specialist Ria Cammack, Affinity Plus Senior Community Engagement Specialist Adam Layne, Joy Collaborative Founder Mark Ostrom, and Elea Healy Design Firm and Joy Room Designer Tamatha Miller.

Abound CU

Western Kentucky University (WKU) President Timothy C. Caboni (center) with Ray Springsteen, president/CEO of Abound Credit Union (right) and Abound team members recognize their partnership at a check presentation on Aug. 2. The $2.1 billion, Radcliff, Ky.-based Abound recently pledged $105,000 to support four areas on the WKU campus: The 2023-2025 Personal Finance Summer Camps (Center for Financial Success in the Gordon Ford College of Business); a Celebration of the Arts 2023 Title Sponsorship (Kentucky Museum); Textbooks for Troops (Military Student Services) and the first-year student program M.A.S.T.E.R. Plan (Housing and Residence Life).

Consumers CU

Sandra Gaddy, CEO of The Women’s Resource Center (WRC), cuts a ribbon in celebration of the grand opening of the WRC’s new location in Grand Rapids, Mich. The $2.1 billion, Kalamazoo, Mich.-based Consumers Credit Union recently committed to a multi-year partnership with the organization, thereby funding the lobby of the new space. As the result of a capital campaign, the WRC was able to surpass its goal of $2 million and raised a grand total of $2.8 million to fund the new space. Founded in 1973, the WRC offers programs and services to effectively motivate and inspire all women who seek meaningful employment.

Garden Savings FCU

Mike Powers (left), CEO for the $425 million, Parsippany, N.J.-based Garden Savings Federal Credit Union, presents a $14,000 check to Sophia Rabbat, program officer for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and representative of The Children’s Specialized Hospital Foundation. The Children’s Specialized Hospital Foundation, a key partner of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, works to advance medical treatment and care for children through various programs and efforts in the credit union’s region.

SECU Foundation

SECU Foundation, the charitable arm of the $49.6 billion, Raleigh, N.C.-based SECU, recently awarded Charlotte Rescue Mission (CRM) a $500,000 challenge grant to support a capital campaign for a new Rebound for Men residential recovery facility. The Foundation’s gift will help the nonprofit expand its impact for men battling homelessness and addiction, and raise greater community awareness for the initiative. The planned five-story facility will replace CRM’s current 100-year-old structure with modern amenities and housing to serve an additional 100 individuals annually. Surrounding check from left to right are Tony Marciano, CRM president/CEO; Kara Herrick, SECU SVP; Bob Brinson, SECU Foundation board chair; and Sharon Bremer, CRM chief development officer, along with SECU and SECU Foundation representatives.

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