We don’t want to forget the great humanitarian deeds of the past, but we wanted to clean up our blog. So this is a consolidation of February 2021 Humanitarian Highlights.
February 4, Credit Unions Climbing Mountains
Welcome to this week’s Humanitarian Highlight #CUfamily! We have compiled a list of Credit Unions Climbing Mountains to help their communities. Oak Tree is forever grateful for the opportunity to make an impact on the #CUway. If you know a credit union that has gone above and beyond in making a #CUdifference, use our hashtag #HumanitarianHighlight to let us know about it, so we can give them a shout-out!
Buckeye State Credit Union
Giving back to one of their community partners, the YWCA of Alliance, Buckeye State CU donated a check for $7,500. The donation will go toward supporting their food pantry, homeless initiative, women’s transitional housing, and providing gifts for children of families in need.
Frankenmuth Credit Union
While Frankenmuth CU was closed in honor of MLK Day, staff members chose to give back and volunteered at local soup kitchens in the area. The volunteers helped to prepare and serve food, as well as take care of whatever else needed to be done.
NET Credit Union
Due to the pandemic, NET Credit Union held its 7th Annual Netoberfest Golf Tournament virtually, and all funds raised were donated to the students and staff of The DePaul School. NET CU and Allied Services, which is a NET CU Preferred Partner Group, came up with an amazing $20,000 in donations.
The DePaul School’s mission is to teach students with dyslexia and other related learning disabilities how to learn. Their dedicated staff and specially trained faculty offer a well-structured system of programs aimed at maximizing abilities and compensating for disabilities.
Thrive Credit Union
At Thrive Credit Union, for every member who opened a new checking account in November and December, Thrive CU would donate $25 to the Boys and Girls Club of Muncie. Wanting to take it a step further, Thrive presented a $2,600 check to the Boys and Girls Club of Muncie and showed its longstanding support for the organization.
Numerica Credit Union
After generously donating $100,000 to help families and individuals transition from shelters into stable homes, Numerica CU also took it upon itself to put together baskets full of essentials to help make the transition that much more comfortable. The items in the baskets ranged from kitchenware to laundry essentials.
Ascentra Credit Union
Given the current circumstances, food insecurity is at an all-time high. Ascentra CU and its members, through an auto loan promotion, were able to come up with $23,350 in donations to gift to River Bend Foodbank. This contribution will provide around 116,750 meals to families in the local communities that they serve.
“It’s especially important that during times like these we focus on helping our communities. We have been a partner with the River Bend Foodbank in the past and are proud that this effort has generated such a large donation, and are excited about the difference it’ll make for families experiencing food insecurity during this pandemic.” Linda Andry, Interim President and CEO of Ascentra Credit Union.
February 11, Building up our Communities
It’s #Humanitarianhighlight day, and Oak Tree is so excited to present these amazing #CreditUnions who have all gone above and beyond to make a #CUdifference in building up our communities.
Helping build up our local communities is what the #CUindustry is all about, and these highlighted #CUs are nothing short of amazing! If you know of a #creditunion that has positively impacted their community, tag us and let us know so we can ensure they get recognized!
Wolverine State Credit Union
Wolverine State CU partnered with AmericInn Lodge & Suites of Oscoda, and they generously put together hygiene packs to donate through a Grocery Giveaway. With their care packages, they were able to help over 200 families in their local community who were in need of these basic items.
Parkview Community Federal Credit Union (Now: Clearview FCU)
Parkview Community FCU, with the help of its members, staff, and community, was able to raise $2,092.89 to benefit The McKeesport Agape Center. Their donation goes toward getting packages of food delivered to individuals and families who are in need and without the necessary transportation or are homebound due to medical reasons.
Fergus Federal Credit Union
Wanting to give back to frontline workers, Fergus FCU donated $3,000 to the Hometown Heroes Organization. This donation will help support the delivery of lunches and much-needed coffee to the staff at hospitals and schools in Lewistown, Montana. This generosity was extended in an effort to boost the spirits of frontline workers who have been our backbone during this pandemic.
GCS Credit Union (Now: Revity CU)
GCS Credit Union kicked off its 2021 Growing Community Schools jeans program by donating $1,245 to the Triad National Honor Society. The Growing Community Schools program is funded by GCS CU employees who make monthly, monetary donations from their personal funds to a local school organization. Triad NHS was the selected organization for January.
Traid NHS is a service organization that sponsors a number of events to support the school, community charities, and larger charity organizations.
Telcoe Federal Credit Union
Telcoe FCU was honored to provide lunch for staff members at Arkansas Children’s Hospital who continue to work around the clock administering COVID vaccinations at the hospital. Telcoe FCU is proud to contribute to those on the frontlines while they are doing what it takes to provide exceptional healthcare to children all across the state.
Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union
Jeanne D’Arc CU presented a gift of $1,500 to the Greater Lawrence Family Health Center (GLFHC) from Jeanne D’Arc’s We Share a Common Thread Foundation’s quarterly Give-a-Click program put on by the CU.
“The GLFHC is focused on improving the health of people and their families in the Merrimack Valley area of Massachusetts, and the gifted funds will be used to help renovate and expand its Lawrence, Mass., clinic, which is its largest and will account for 33% of annual patient visits.”
Carolinas Telco Federal Credit Union
During the holiday season, Carolinas Telco FCU offered a loan program that benefited the borrower while also supporting local humane societies. Carolinas Telco FCU donated $5 for every loan originated, and they were able to gift $1,700 to benefit a total of five humane societies in North and South Carolina.
February 18, Turning Compassion Into Action
We are so happy to have you here for this week’s Humanitarian Highlight! If you are new around here, we gather the good deeds #CreditUnions are doing all over, and showcase them in one place! Let’s look at how Credit Unions are turning compassion into action.
So let’s get started with this Thursday’s #HumanitarianHighlight, just press play!
If you know a credit union that has gone above and beyond in making a #CUdifference, use our hashtag #HumanitarianHighlight to let us know about it, so we can give them a shout-out!
Patelco Credit Union
Patelco has always prioritized supporting those who face food insecurity, especially during the current global crisis. Food banks have had triple (or even more) requests for food. Particularly critical is the need to feed children who normally get their meals at school. For every $1 donated, a food bank can secure up to $7 worth of food. Patelco has generously donated $130,000 to partner food banks in their local community.
SeaComm Federal Credit Union
SeaComm FCU recently committed to an amazing $150,000 worth of donations between 6 regional hospital foundations across northern NY and VT. The donated funds will help to purchase essential medical supplies and needed aid for frontline healthcare workers.
TruWest Credit Union
TruWest gifted $10,478 to Dell Children’s Medical Center in Austin, TX. They were able to reach this generous amount through a fundraising 50/50 raffle, which included over 195 participants who made donations, as well as TruWest’s annual “Casual for a Cause” staff donation initiatives, which are held throughout the year.
Polish & Slavic Federal Credit Union
For the seventh straight year, PSFCU, the nation’s largest ethnic credit union, donated more than $100,000 to organizations and foundations committed to assisting sick, terminally ill, and disadvantaged children. Since debuting its holiday donation drive in 2014, PSFCU has collected more than $834,000, all of which has benefited 16 children’s hospices.
Connex Credit Union
Connex Credit Union partnered with Christian Community Action to collect money and basic household items for homeless families moving into recently renovated apartments at the Hillside Family Shelter in New Haven. Connex CU staff and members were able to contribute $1,500 and more than 240 household items and toys for these families in need.
Oklahoma Central Credit Union
With Oklahoma Central’s Refer-A-Friend program, they were able to donate $575 to Domestic Violence Intervention Services (DVIS). DVIS provides comprehensive intervention and prevention services to men, women, and children affected by domestic and sexual violence.
“The DVIS mission is to rebuild lives affected by domestic violence and sexual assault through advocacy, shelter, counseling, and education.” Domestic Violence Intervention Services, Inc.
American 1 Credit Union
American 1 CU surprised two of its members by paying off the remaining balance on their auto loans. This generosity came as part of their Great Loan Payoff promotion. Members earn drawing entries, and American 1 CU pays their loans up to $15,000. Though the promotion stated there would only be one winner, the credit union paid the remaining balance for two of its members, wanting to increase its efforts of giving back to its long-standing members.
February 25, Championing Around Our Communities
It’s the day of the week you’ve all been waiting for (Thursday, which means it’s almost Friday), but also, it’s time for our #HumanitarianHighlight! We gathered credit unions from all over championing around their communities to make them a better place!
Press play to see their amazing work!
If you know of a #creditunion that has positively impacted their community, tag us and let us know so we can ensure they get recognized!
American Eagle Financial Credit Union
Volunteers from AEFCU and Journey Home generously filled a truck with over 40 pieces of gently used furniture, including office furnishings from the CU’s former branch, which will be used to furnish Journey Home’s admin offices. Journey Home is a non-profit whose mission is to support local people transitioning out of homelessness.
First Heritage Federal Credit Union
First Heritage FCU wanted to honor one of its board members, Mary Ann Thomas, for her contributions to the credit union over the last 40 years. The CU made a $4,000 donation to a local charity of her choice, which she chose to divide between two organizations that are close to her heart: the Southeast Steuben County Library and the Corning Food Pantry.
Foothill Credit Union
Foothill CU generously donated over 2,000 notepads to the Arcadia Unified School District. These notepads were donated in support of their upcoming Middle School Wellness Conference that they are holding for their students.
Mutual Security Credit Union
As part of Mutual Security’s commitment to better their local community, they made a donation of $1,000 to Alliance for Community Empowerment, in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Alliance’s mission is to improve the quality of life for economically disadvantaged individuals in the Bridgeport area by providing the necessary resources to improve education, housing, health, and welfare programs.
University of Hawaii Federal Credit Union
Throughout this pandemic, UHFCU has partnered with Aloha United Way to offer support to thousands of local families in their communities affected by the COVID crisis. UHFCU helped raise the donated funds by creating custom face masks with inspirational sayings on them and selling them to those interested. Over 3,500 masks were sold, and the proceeds from the masks, as well as generous contributions from UHFCU members, resulted in a total of $19,000, which helped over 1,200 individuals and families.
Desert Financial Credit Union
Desert Financial CU challenged its community and members to raise funds to benefit 1 Darn Cool School, located within Phoenix Children’s Hospital. The credit union matched the first $20,000 in donations, and they raised $5,000 over their goal. With Desert CU’s match, they were able to gift the Children’s Hospital nearly $46,000 to help children undergoing treatment continue their education.
Pelican State Credit Union
Pelican State CU chose The Family Village as its charity of the year. The credit union has hosted several fundraising events for the cause, and with the help of the Beak Squad, Pelican’s volunteer fundraising committee, they were able to raise a total of $4,258.37. The donation will go toward items to help local children who have been separated from their homes by a traumatic event.
(Note: these are older blog entries and have been edited since originally posted.)
Oak Tree Business Systems, Inc.
If you would like to be featured in a Humanitarian Highlight or have any comments or questions about our business, please don’t hesitate to contact us via email or by phone at (800) 537-9598.
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