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 March 2021 Humanitarian Highlights.
March 4, On a Mission to Make a Difference
Welcome to this week’s #HumanitarianHighlight, where you’ll get a first-hand look at #creditunions from all over making it their mission to make a difference in their communities.
Here at Oak Tree, we are so grateful to be a part of this #CUfamily, and we will continue doing our part to give back and showcase others who embody what it means to truly make a #CUdifference!
American First Credit Union
The charitable arm of American First CU is giving away 10 scholarships, each worth $1,000. The credit union is looking for candidates who embody the people-helping-people motto and who play an active role in their local communities. To be eligible, members must be graduating high school seniors or undergrad students currently enrolled in a two-year, four-year, or technical college, and who, most importantly, have a passion for serving others.
Connexus Credit Union
Connexus CU has generously pledged $1,000,000 to Habitat for Humanity Saskatchewan, which will help support the building of 80 homes across the province and will help families achieve their basic human needs. Connexus CU is also taking the initiative and working with Habitat for Humanity to create a provincial youth work experience program. This program will give 220 students each year the chance to gain trade skills, and Connexus CU will provide them with financial literacy sessions.
Mission Fed Credit Union
During a month-long fundraiser, Mission Fed CU raised a total of $215,000. These proceeds will be used to benefit three of the credit union’s community partners: The Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank, San Diego Rescue Mission, and The Salvation Army of San Diego County.
TLC Community Credit Union
TLC Community CU gifted $25,000 to the Lenawee Community Foundation and the Kiwanis Regional Trail Authority. This donation will go toward assisting in the Kiwanis Trail connection and expansion between Adrian and Tecumseh. The extension of the Kiwanis Trail will bring the trail into the city of Tecumseh and is planned for later this summer.
Together Credit Union
Together Foundation has donated essential technology and educational supplies to two St. Louis metro area schools. This donation will aid teachers and students as they try to navigate the challenges of virtual learning during the pandemic. Ensuring students continue on a bright path and easing the burden placed on teachers to quickly adapt is the main goal for this credit union.
Tower Federal Credit Union
Tower FCU just announced its new philanthropic endeavor, Pennies for Change. Over the course of the year 2021, Tower will donate up to $250,000 to the TowerCares Foundation through the Pennies for Change program. The newly implemented Pennies for Change program will work by members simply swiping their debit or credit card, in-store and online. For every use, Tower will donate one cent to the foundation, and they fully expect to hit their goal.
Truliant Federal Credit Union
Truliant FCU held its annual Financial Education Grants for public schools, and this year, 11 of the 38 applicants in Truliant’s member-owned communities were selected. They are receiving grants for individual programs aimed at improving financial literacy. The credit union is gifting more than $40,000 to this year’s winners. The fund is intended to strengthen financial literacy in grades K-6 by gifting funds in financial-education grants to public school teachers, so they can implement financial education into their curriculum.
March 11, Making a Difference the Credit Union Way
Credit unions are the heart of our #HumanitarianHighlights because making a difference in their communities is what #CUs are built on. Here’s to making a difference, the credit union way.
Oak Tree loves showcasing all the amazing work done by the #CUindustry and recognizing all of the credit unions that go above and beyond to make a #CUdifference.
First Community Credit Union
First Community CU hosted a blood drive in support of the Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center. Their employees and members of the local community banded together and donated much-needed blood. With the recent storms striking their area, many units of blood were lost, so the credit union knew they had to act fast and give back in any way they could.
GECU
GECU teamed up with the Official El Paso Independent School District and is helping individuals file their taxes, free of charge. You can drop off your tax files with one of their certified, bilingual volunteers at any of their available locations. With all the uncertainty in the world right now, there is one thing we know to be true: taxes have to get done!
Linn Area Credit Union, now: Corda Credit Union
Honoring Random Acts of Kindness Day, Linn Area CU’s Blairs Ferry Road team collected new hats, socks, and gloves, along with gently used coats. The team then donated these items to three different non-profits in need, located in their community.
Southland Credit Union
Southland CU has gifted more than $100,000 in computer workstations to the City of Long Beach Department of Parks, Recreation, and Marine. This gift will be used in support of its youth and senior recreation programs. These workstations include more than 200 monitors, keyboards, hard drives, and Windows 10 software licenses. The stations will be available to registered youth and seniors of the City after-school teen and senior programs.
Suncoast Credit Union
Recognizing that the arts create and add dimension to individuals’ lives and provide creative outlets for many, the Suncoast Credit Union Foundation has made a $5,000 contribution to the Van Wezel Foundation in support of their Artworks Anywhere Program. This program was launched in the middle of the pandemic to ensure arts education remained accessible to the Sarasota community and beyond.
TTCU Federal Credit Union
Wanting to honor the credit union philosophy of “people helping people,” TTCU FCU provided meals to city employees who continue to work tirelessly through the winter storms that have aggressively affected certain areas. TTCU FCU also went around to local grocery stores and surprised unsuspecting shoppers with gift cards to help purchase their groceries.
MSU Federal Credit Union
MSU FCU hosted its Annual Gala virtually this year, but that didn’t stop the CU from making an amazing contribution to its community. During the Gala, employees could donate to the Lansing Food Bank with MSUFCU matching donations up to $5,000. At the start of the Gala, close to $2,500 had already been donated, and the goal of $10,000 was surpassed in less than one hour. A total of $11,065 was donated to the Lansing Food Bank, which will provide 36,735 meals to those in need.
March 18, March For a Cause
Happy Thursday #CUfamily! We are back with another #HumanitarianHighlight! This week, we have brought you credit unions from all over who are constantly March For A Cause and do what they can to help their communities year-round.
Here at Oak Tree, we like to take this day weekly, to say thank you to all the #creditunions out there making a #CUdifference in their communities!
Peach State Federal Credit Union
Peach State FCU hosts a quarterly food bank donation drive; members and staff are encouraged to donate non-perishable food items. These donations are given to a food bank or pantry in the credit union’s local area. This quarter, Peach State FCU contributed to Area Churches Together Serving in Bogart, Georgia.
Neighborhood Credit Union
With the help and rallying of the community and Neighborhood Credit Union’s members, they were able to donate $33,365 to the North Texas Food Bank. These donations will be used to serve those who face food insecurity due to the pandemic. Matching dollar for dollar, up to $25,000, and with over 100 donors, the credit union’s donation supplied over 100,000 meals to those in need.
Mountain America Federal Credit Union
Mountain America Federal Credit Union is committed to donating $50 to a local charity for every successful 3-point shot made by Idaho State University, Boise State University, and Brigham Young University during the 2020-2021 men’s college basketball season. During this season, a total of $29,500 was donated to Operation Warm, St. Luke’s Health Foundation, and the American Red Cross.
Canopy Credit Union
Wanting to continue supporting their community, Canopy CU worked with Northeast Community Center to help a local non-profit, The ZoNE. They came together and delivered boxes of food to families who are struggling due to a lack of transportation, a lack of funds, being disabled, having to quarantine due to COVID, and so on.
RTN Federal Credit Union, Now: BrightBridge Credit Union
The RTN Federal Credit Union Employees Community Outreach Committee supplied dinner for the men and women at the Bristol Lodge Soup Kitchen located in WALTHAM. Following COVID guidelines and restrictions, RTN employees delivered 3-foot-long submarine sandwiches, Delmonico potatoes, as well as a sweet treat for dessert. These donations were then packaged to go by Bristol Lodge staff for individuals in need to pick up.
PSE Credit Union
In celebration of Penn State’s Children’s Hospital, PSECU, Pennsylvania’s anytime, anywhere digital credit union, has committed $10,000 to Children’s Miracle Network. This donation will be used to purchase equipment that brings comfort to babies in the hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. This gift provided 40 mamaRoo baby swings for the highest-level NICU in Central Pennsylvania. These baby seats stimulate a natural rocking motion to help soothe babies and promote development.
Firefighters & Company Federal Credit Union
For the sixth year in a row, Firefights & Company Credit Union is donating carbon monoxide detectors to local fire departments. A total of 550 detectors will be donated to departments in Montgomery, Miami, and Greene counties. The credit union has been able to donate over 2,600 detectors since it started this initiative years ago.
March 25, Lending a Helping Hand
We are thrilled to present to you this week’s #HumanitarianHighlight! Let’s hear it for those lending a helping hand!
Credit unions everywhere are lending a helping hand to their local communities, their members, and those in need. #Creditunions are a great example of what it means to be a part of a community, and here at Oak Tree, we are proud to be a part of the #CUCommunity. We see these posts as our contribution to lending a helping hand.
Firelands Federal Credit Union
Twice every year, Firelands FCU offers qualified members the chance to skip one of their monthly loan payments. For every payment that members skip, Firelands FCU donates $5 to a local organization in need. With their Winter skip-a-pay offer, they were able to distribute a total in donations $3,000 to area churches and food banks, which will help provide meals and self-care items to those in need.
Cloverbelt Credit Union
Cloverbelt Credit Union’s employees banded together and assembled 100 Literacy Kits for kids in their local school district on behalf of the United Way of Marathon County. Included in the Literacy Kits were classics such as Curious George and other well-known children’s books.
California Coast Credit Union
California Coast CU, its members, and its local community raised $35,000 in donations during a recent initiative that was put in place to support local minority-owned businesses as well as four local non-profits. All have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The campaign members were encouraged to shop locally, and every time their Cal Coast MasterCard debit or credit card was swiped, the credit union would then donate proceeds to the Strategic Alliance – San Diego, which represents minority-owned businesses.
Alabama Credit Union
Alabama Credit Union has donated $100,000 to the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), a part of the University of Alabama System, as a commitment to establish the Alabama Credit Union Professorship in Entrepreneurship within the College of Business. The College of Business will use the professorship to recognize one or more faculty members who focus on the areas of entrepreneurship, innovation, or business strategy.
Achieva Credit Union
Achieva Credit Union has donated a total of $60,000 since the pandemic started to aid and support local education programs across its geographic footprint. Traditionally, fundraising for education is done through local community events, but with no events this past year being held, Achieva has kept up its support with direct donations made through the Achieva Foundation. Their Foundation is a 501© (3) Corporation committed to supporting organizations that create opportunities for social and economic enrichment of the communities that Achieva Credit Union serves.
Welcome Federal Credit Union
Welcome Federal Credit Union made a $2,521.70 donation to the American Cancer Society. Since August 2020, Welcome Federal Credit Union has been an American Cancer Society partner, and since then, more than $29,000 has been raised through their partnership.
Educational Employees Credit Union
ABC30, Disney, First Book, and Educational Employees Credit Union all came together and donated a total of 5,000 books to the Fresno Unified School District. More than 600 students at King Elementary will receive a free book to read, and five other schools in the district will also receive free books. This is all a part of Disney’s “Magic Storytelling” Campaign, and it comes at a perfect time, as most kids still do not have access to a public library.
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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