Congratulations to our 2011 Community Outreach Scholarship winners!
First Place - $5,000 - Saginaw Medical FCU
Second Place - $2,500 - Charter Oak FCU
Third Place - $1,000 - Community CU of Florida
Fourth Place - $500 - Elga CU
Fifth Place - $100 - NE PA Community FCU
- Summit CU
- Streator Onized CU
- Delta County CU
Facebook Fan Favorites (voted for by our Facebook fans):
First Place - $2,500 - Harbor CU
Second Place - $1,000 - Brightstar CU
Third Place - $500 - Syracuse Fire Dept EFCU
The winners each receive money toward their outreach efforts.
Learn more about all our credit unions that entered. All entries are listed below alphabetically.
Danville, IL
Bi-Lingual Translator
The Danville community is growing in Hispanic families, many with grandmothers and moms and dads that speak very little English and their children are having to be in adult situations to relay to their parents what is being said. Their CU would like to utilize one of their Bi-lingual employees to translate or talk with this Hispanic adults so their children don't have to be put in adult conversations.
Riverview, MI
Soldier Box
This year they implimented the Soldier Box program where they collected a list of requested items for a selected active duty soldier each month. Collection boxes are in each of our 3 branch lobbies with "take one" cards composed of the soldiers name and picture and list of requested items.
Gadsden, AL
C2C (Connected to Community) Project
A number of areas in Alabama were devistated by tornadoes on April 27, 2011. ATCU has helped its surrounding communities by not only volunteering, but by creating the Connected to Community, or C2C, interest free loan special for those affected. The C2C loan was available to aid some of ATCU's members who were affected. ATCU continues to assist with its surrounding communities by volunteering their time to help feed the people affected and are currently helping a family rebuild theri home.
Pearl City, HI
Our members need help! We have solutions!
Aloha FCU was chartered in 1952 to serve as the exclusive credit union for employees of what has now become the defunct Aloha Airlines. In March 2008, Aloha Airlines ceased its operations and 4,500 employees were left jobless. Because of the economic challenges facing its members, the credit union provides a full array of products and services including free financial counseling and free financial education among its other low-cost and low-fee products and services. The credit union’s outreach plan is to add marketing and education opportunities to alert current and eligible members to what the credit union has to offer, including a program to offer in-person outreach to air industry partners to initiate such beneficial products and services.
Billings, MT
Yellowstone County Relay for Life
Altana Federal Credit Union employees support Relay for Life – a division of the American Cancer Society. For the last 9 years, employees have donated to this cause completely through employee-driven fundraising.
Jackson, MI
Hillsdale Women's Expo
American 1 Credit Union would like to hold a Women’s Expo that will focus on all things women; from health to finance, fashion to home décor, and all things in between. One of the areas they serve, Hillsdale County, has been particularly hard hit during the economic downturn. American 1 is hoping this may help businesses and residents in the area, fueling an upturn in spending and community pride during the holiday season. Any proceeds from this event will be donated to a local women’s charitable organization to be determined at a later date.
Centennial, CO
Jump$tart Coalition Fiscal Fitness Workshop
Most educators who incorporate personal finance into their curriculum don’t consider themselves an expert on this subject. Offering “Train the Trainer” workshops to several educators and administrators statewide was critical to complete the equation. Arapahoe Credit Union is partnering with the Colorado Jump$tart Coalition and is offering a hands-on, 3-day workshop to help fellow educators build knowledge about personal finance topics to reinforce your excitement and ability to bring the same knowledge to students.
Youngstown, OH
Financial Starting Points Essay Contest
The Associated School Employees Credit Union is sponsoring an essay contest for Mahoning Valley students in the ninth through twelfth grades. The theme for the 2012 Essay Contest is: How financial literacy affects our community. Entries will be judged on how well they convey the theme through their written communication skills. A scholarship award of $750 will be given to the top essay winner, a scholarship award of $500 will be provided to the student finishing 2nd place and a scholarship award of $250 will be provided to the student finishing 3rd place.
Newport News, VA
People helping People
Bayport Credit Union has donated items in need and monetary donations to a local group organizing hygiene items to our soldiers and last December made a monetary donation for postage to send stockings to our soldiers. They have also gathered items for a local convelescent home to give to those less fortunate that do not have family to help to provide items of need especially during the holiday seasons. Additional donations included Local Redcross for tornado victims; a young girls rights movement; local SPCA; a local church outreach program that is feeding 140 people per day and is in need of winter clothing and holiday items.
Rapid City, SD
15th Annual School Supply Drive
Black Hills Federal Credit Union's School Supply Drive, in its 15th year collected more than 83,000 supplies for students in nearly 60 area schools. The supplies will allow these students an equal opportunity to learn and be successful in the classroom. During the 2011-2012 school year, the supplies will fill the desks and lockers of more than 5,000 students. Black Hills Federal Credit Union spearheads the annual Drive - taking in donations of supplies and monetary gifts from local businesses and individuals. Employee volunteers then oversee the purchase, organization and distribution of the collection.
Del Rio, Texas
Financial Education Awareness
Border Federal Credit Union participates in 'Town Talk Live' on KWMC in which they talk about different financial topics and members of the community have an opportunity to call in and have their questions answered. Town Talk Live is in both English and Spanish – all information is translated. They also attend many different events throughout the year in which they promote Financial Education Services.
Calhoun, TN
Pay It Forward
Bowater Credit Union has asked their members: "What local charity or non-profit do YOU think could use $1,000 to make our community a better place to live, work, or go to school?" Each year they give 4 prizes, one each quarter. The program has been hugely successful - the winning charities illustrate the amazing things people in our community are doing every day. The program has garnered positive attention for BECU, for credit unions in general, and for each of the winning charities.
Sunrise, FL
People Helping People
With its historical roots in the public education arena, BrightStar CU has continued its commitment to public education through its charitable support of public education and the community-at-large. For the purpose of this scholarship they would donate the award to the Broward Schools Homeless Education Fund. Broward County Schools, the nation's sixth largest - and largest fully accredited - school district, provides services to more than 2500 homeless students each school year. Over 200 schools are impacted each year. The purpose of the Homeless Education Program is to identify homeless students, remove systemic barriers to their education, including school enrollment, transportation and reassignments; provide them with supplemental academic and counseling case management services as well as linkages to their school social worker while maintaining school as the students stable environment.
Buffalo, NY
Start of the School Year Scholarship
Buffalo Metropolitan Federal Credit Union is continuing to teach financial literacy to youths through our Banking Day program. With the support of the schools, they currently offer Banking Day at four elementary schools located in Buffalo, NY.
With the continuation of Banking Day, the would like to offer Banking Day participants at these schools an opportunity to win a Start of the School Year Scholarship. During the summer, applicants would be asked to explain how Banking Day gives them a head start on financial learning to become our financial leaders of tomorrow.
Rogers City, MI
Rockin & Rollin for a Cure
For several years, the staff at Calcite Credit Union has hosted a "Rock 'n Roll' dance party for the benefit of the American Cancer Society. What began as an idea for a one-time event, this 'fun'draiser soon became a much anticipated evening of fun for many people in our area.
Meridian, ID
Teacher Grant Program
Capital Educators Credit Union awards three teacher grants of $750 each month to teachers to enhance their classroom teaching. This is the start of our 4th year to offer this program and it has been very successful.
Wichita, KS
Financial Literacy: For Today, For Tomorrow, For All
In September 2009, Catholic Family FCU launched a new outreach program aimed at providing the community with the knowledge and skills to effectively handle their finances. They teach second graders the basics of money and saving; middle school children about budgeting, interest, Credit vs. Debit, and other topics; and high school kids about car buying and auto loans, budgeting, money management, and other topics relevant to financial literacy.
Dublin, CA
EDUCATION FOR SINGLE MOM'S
Chabot Federal Credit Union grants scholarships to their local community college for single mothers.
Groton, CT
The Financial Literacy Street Team
Charter Oak FCU would like to launch a college intern-powered Financial Literacy Street Team Program within their community to get young adults engaged in the financial literacy efforts of the credit union while ensuring youth in the area are exposed to the basics of personal finance and the benefits of banking with a credit union.
Clarence, NY
Bucks 4 Books
Clarence Community & Schools Federal Credit Union collected gently used books as a fundraiser for two of their members that have left Clarence to work at an orphanage in Kenya. They expressed the need for books in their library so we collected books to sell and sent the money to them to buy books.
Louisville, KY
Raising Money, Saving Lives
One of the many ways Class Act helps their community is by participating in the American Heart Association’s Annual “Heartwalk”. This year they started fundraising with a car wash; “jeans days” where credit union employees would donate money to wear jeans on specific Fridays; hot dog cookouts and pizza parties. In addition, this year they also decided to have a yard sale with all of the donations going to the Heart Association. Not only does the credit union raise money but they also encourage employees to partake in the walk. As an added bonus, if employees walk and raise $200 they get a PAID DAY OFF WORK!
Corpus Christi, TX
Coastal Community And Teachers Credit Union F.O.C.U.S. FUND FOUNDATION
The F.O.C.U.S. Foundation (for our kids ultimate success) was founded by CCATCU in 2005 for supplimentary grants to area schools and organizations for kids programs who are in need of funds. This program has allowed the credit union to give more than $70,000 back to the community. The funds raised for the grants are by employee contributions, a local Walk-a-thon event at the mall and this year they added a new kids talent show with waffle breakfast.
La Crosse, WI
CCU Cares Program
Community Credit Union strongly encourages all team members to be involved in community volunteer events. Some of the events they participate in include: The American Cancer Society’s 5K run/walk, local Coulee Region Humane Society’s Bark in the Park event, the Rotary Lights event to support local food pantries, Junior Achievement efforts to help kids learn about the business industry, the Children’s Miracle Network telethon and the New Horizon’s Women’s Shelter 5K Turkey Trot.
Rockledge, FL
Community Angels for Brevard's Children
Community Credit Union of Florida is a long-standing partner for the Children's Advocacy Center of Brevard. CCU would like to utilize the scholarship to provide free printed materials for free trainings to parents, teachers, coaches and health care professionals. These materials will focus on: Safe Sleeping Techniques For Parents; Coping with Crying; Leaving Children in Hot Cars; Pool Safety; Car Seat Safety; and Gun Safety; just to name a few.
Danville, IL
Money Smart Kid Essay contest
This contest is open to all Vermilion County Illinois 6-8 grade kids. Each will write an essay of 300 words or less the question is - "Decision-Making & Money – Give an example of when it is wise to borrow money and when it is not. What factors do you need to consider to help you make a responsible choice? Please be sure to discuss the concepts of decision making and opportunity cost in your answer."
Escanaba, MI
The Escanaba High School Clothes Closet
The Clothes Closet is for homeless/less fortunate high school students. The CU employees raised money during credit union week and used the money to purchase gift certificates to take the kids shopping for items they need. They also donated several boxes of clothes/shoes/jackets from their own closets. This holiday season each employee will be donating money and purchasing gift certificates for the kids to go shopping.
Wyomissing, PA
Discovery Federal Credit Union Partners With the Community it Serves
Discovery devoted nearly 15% of its overall marketing budget to giving back to the community it serves. They were involved in several community projects this year including the following: Gilmore/Henne Community Fund; Financial Literacy Program for local Schools; Elementary Dollar Dog Savings Days; Produce for Kids Program; Spring Township Tot Lot and Summer Playground Sponsor; Opportunity House; Blood Drives; Operation Once in a Lifetime; Relay for Life; and many other community organizations.
Albany, GA
Financial Literacy Tools for School Students
In an effort to promote fundamental financial skills and promote practical use of healthy financial habits in the classroom, DOCO purchases and provides an assortment of financial literacy tools to 131 elementary, middle and high schools. The tools are reusable resources ranging from flashcards, to budgetting games to computer software. They partner with resource centers at each school to make the tools available for teachers to check out for use in their classrooms.
Ecorse, MI
Downriver Employees Hearts in Hands
Downriver Community FCU supports many community programs, including: Hearts in Hands; National Kidney Foundation Zoo Walk; the Yes Ma'am program thru Henry Ford Wyandotte Hospital; they buy the "fixings" for Thanksgiving Baskets distributed thru a local church; adopt 2 families and provide Christmas Gifts; and the Silverliners Fantasy Flight which take seriously or terminally ill children on a "pretend" flight to the North Pole.
Martinsburg, WV
Hedgesville High School Student Branch
In September 2007, they opened an in-school student run branch at Hedgesville High School – the only one in the state of WV. Student tellers earn community service credits through the school, which are required to graduate. The branch provides easily accessible financial services to help students learn the importance of financial literacy. They provide a subscription to brass Magazine, which is used in the classroom, have special Youth accounts, maintain an ATM in the main vestibule, and speak to classes as requested.
Arvada, CO
Labors Community Agency Food Drive
Labor's Community Agency is a nonprofit, community-based organization and serves as the Community Services Arm of the Colorado AFL-CIO providing assistance to union members, their families and the community. One area that the CU has been focusing on to assist this agency is with their food bank which union members, their families as well as the community can access when times are tough. To help Labor Community Agencies food shortage problem for their assistance program they have pledged three cans of food for every new member that joins the credit union each month. They have also placed a donation box in the lobby which members can bring food to. In addition, they also donate part of the revenue generated from their holiday skip-a-pay program held each year during November & December.
St Louis, MO
Local Rental Properties
Due to the economy, there is a growing number of people that have financial issues. Electro Savings has established relationships with 37 apartment communities within 5 miles of their four offices. They attend their community events and hold free financial education seminars at their clubhouses.
Burton, MI
Finley House Project
The purpose of the Finley House project is to restore a house in Flint that will be used as a transition home for homeless women with children. The women are allowed to stay at the house as long as they participate in the personal development programs. The programs provided are financial literacy, career building, and parent skills. The mission of the house is to give the homeless women the tools they need to be successful. Along with Carriage Town Ministry and many other companies, ELGA Credit Union helped with construction, landscaping, painting and cleaning on the house. ELGA Credit Union also purchased a new roof for the house.
Elizabeth, NJ
Play Ball for Miracles
Each year, Elizabeth NJ Firemen's FCU raises money for Children's Specialized Hospital, Children of Credit Union Members with special medical needs and Children's Miracle Network Hospitals through this event.
Garfield Heights, OH
Community Outreach Coordinator
Every year in April, the CU celebrates Credit Union Youth Month. They are planning to give an exta $5 bonus to deposits made to a youth account for the entire month. They are also planning on holding a youth fair where we will have games & contests supporting financial literacy.
Erie, PA
Erie School District's CHAMPS After School Program
The Erie Federal Credit Union has collaborated with the CHAMPS After School Program for many years by providing financial literacy classes. The goal of the partnership will be to have a total of 378 total classes or sessions that the 360 students can participate in, with each student being involved in a minimum of 10 to 15 classes or sessions.
Neenah, WI
H.U.G.S. (Help Us Give to otherS)
ECU has created an internal team of employees who create fund-raising events to help numerous local community outreach organizations.
Bay City, MI
Do-$ave - a unique branch partnership, run by and for, adults with disbilities
(FinancialEdge Community Credit Union has teamed up with Do-All, Incorporated a Bay City, Michigan non-profit business organization which helps adults with disabilities and other barriers to employment. Together, they have launched Do-$ave – a program to provide financial services to Do-All trainees and employees through an on-site branch at Do-All’s main facility. The primary purpose of the branch partnership is to teach money handling and personal finance skills to adults with disabilities (trainees) as part of their training with Do-All.
Dayton, OH
Support Department Holiday Gifting
Every year the members of the support department at FirstDay Financial Federal Credit Union choose a worthy cause to raise awareness of the hardships faced within their local Dayton community. This year they will support several causes including collecting food donations to support a food pantry in Northwest Dayton and Diabetes Dayton.
Pensacola, FL
NW Florida AID’s Foundation Run/Walk
To help celebrate their 50th Anniversary of 50 incredible years of service, FSEFCU decided to focus their celebratory efforts on local community events and sponsorships. During the year of 2011 alone, FSEFCU donated over twelve thousand dollars to local organizations and has had representatives volunteer more than 300 hours to the organizations that need hands-on help. Employees have personally donated their time to participate in events and sponsorship events such as: Habitat for Humanity, Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, NW FL’s Junior Achievement, and the AIDS Healthcare Foundation of NW Florida.
Fife Lake, MI
FAFCU Humanity Fund
This is a Forest Area FCU fund that is supported by staff donations and in house fundraising efforts. The proceeds of this fund are used to help members of the community that find themselves in need of a little financial boost due to un-forseen adversity in their life, or in the life of an immediate family member. Some recent examples of how they have used the funds from this account include: a member that recently had a house fire was given $200 to help offset costs involved in the immediate need of relocating his family and replacing household items and clothing until insurance could help. Another example was a member who's wife experienced an unexpected heart surgery and subsequent hospital stay was given $200 to help offset travel expenses to and from the hospital during this time of need.
Appleton, WI
Community Development Officer
Fox Communities Credit Union took a leadership role in getting all of the Credit Unions in three areas of the state (Fox Cities, Green Bay, Oshkosh area) to help fill local food pantries, and also provide matching money to the community to donate to help the pantries as well. Together they corporately donated a total of over $36,000 and contacted two foundations to put up dollars to get the community to match.
Gardiner, ME
Ending Hunger in Maine Campaign
Since 1990, the Maine Credit Union movement has raised more than $3.5 Million to help end hunger in Maine. Through the Maine Credit Unions' Campaign for Ending Hunger, thousands of Maine people and families have been touched in every county in the State. This year, Gardiner Federal Credit Union has set a goal to raise $12,000 for this community outreach program. To achive this goal, they have planned and implemented various community events.
Rochester, NY
Spartan Savers Club Elementary Savings Program
Gates Chili FCU kicked off a partnership with the Gates Chili Central School District's Florence Brasser Elementary School to provide hands-on financial experience to children in grades 3 to 5. The credit union has been working with the school district for over a year to research, develop and implement this program. Each child, with parental permission, opens a savings account and can make deposits into the account each month during Savings Days held in the elementary school's library. Students receive a passbook where they can earn stamps for making deposits, completing financial activity sheets and participating in contests. They also receive a newsletter every month that includes savings tips, financial puzzles, vocabulary and more.
Atlanta, GA
Building a Community Focus
Through community projects, Georgia's Own CU set a goal to improve morale and imbed our mission of social responsibility into their corporate culture. All in all, they have assisted with more than 50 community-based projects, with the largest being an upcoming float sponsorship in WSBs Christmas Parade benefitting Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Other large sponsorships included the title sponsorship of Ella’s Run honoring the life of Meredith Emerson and benefitting the Right to Hike organization, as well as our Green Day events promoting environmental conservation, held at our Alpharetta, Marietta, Lilburn, and Douglasville branches.
Alma, MI
Backpack Drive
Graco FCU accepts donations from members to purchase backpacks and school supplies for 10 county elementary schools.
Niles, MI
Boots for Kids program
Through their Kiwanis group, they supply about 100 boots to local kids each winter. They work directly with the schools to determine the kids in need and set a goal of having no kids with wet cold or feet!
Portsmouth, VA
Financial Literacy Outreach
Guardian FCU goes out into their community through different organization to teach financial literacy to both adults and teens.They also offer free financiali literacy workshops and a teen class to learn about sharedraft accounts and how to balance them. These teens are then able to receive their own sharedraft account.
Green Bay, WI
Green Bay Operation Snowball
Operation Snowball is a drug, alcohol and tobacco prevention program as well as a diversity inclusion program for high school students in Northeastern Wisconsin. It is a teen lead program that promotes discussion, interaction with other teens from different backgrounds, and engages a support network for teens. There are adult leaders in the group that help the teen leaders organize a weekend workshop, bring in large group speakers, and discuss various issues in small groups while building a sense of belonging and connectivity for all within the community.
Kamuela, HI
Empowerment Outreach Coordinator
The Hawaii First Community Resource Center is a community outreach program of Hawaii First FCU whose goal is to create economic development and self sustainability. The center provides no cost computer access, financial counseling, matched savings accounts for home ownership, education, or small business, resume/job seeking assistance, foreclosure assistance, free income tax preparation, pre/post homebuyer education, workshops/classes, amongst many other services to all residents of the County of Hawai.
Kansas City, MO
Financial Education to the Low-Income Unbanked Population
Holy Rosary is located in a very low income area. Scholarships are given to attend a 7 week class financial education class that puts them on the road to success. These classes are taught in Spanish. They are also planning for the first 10 hour session to help low-income people start their own business. They have partnered with another not-for-profit so that they will offer continued mentoring free of charge.
Quincy, IL
Illinois Veterans Home and Salvation Army
Hometown Credit Union donates money for the Golf outing which raises money for the ALL WARS MUESEM. The service men and women who are on active duty are honored through the USO by sending funds for the pre-paid phone project. They also donate for the Christmas gifts for children through the Salvation Army and also to the Food Pantry at the Salvation Army.
Green Bay, WI
Horizon Community Credit Union Gives Back
Horizon Community Credit Union supports the Children's Hospital of Wisconsin and CMN, not only by participating in the Chain of Heart campaign each February, and making and collecting blankets and stuffed animals for patients admitted to the hospital, but also as a co-chair of an annual Green Bay reception/auction and sponsor a corporate tabel at the event.
Binghamton, NY
Finance Seminars
Teens get a lesson in how finances work in the real world at Horizons Federal Credit Union’s Teen Finance Workshop. Students ages 13 to 18 participated in the workshop, which is typically held in March or April every year. Participants learned about savings and checking accounts, SMART goals, budgets, credit cards, the importance of maintaining good credit, and keeping yourself protected against fraud. Topics were taught by Horizons staff members in a “round table” discussion format. Teen’s in attendance received a tote bag filled with goodies as well as a financial work book which was made available through The National Endowment for Financial Education® (NEFE®) High School Financial Planning Program.
Lowell, MA
MoneyStrong For Life Fair
The MoneyStrong For Life Fair is a one day, interactive financial decision-making event for Lowell High School Seniors, which involves basic personal financial management skills. Prior to the fair, students choose a career that they envision for themselves at age 25. On the day of the Fair, students will receive a personal portfolio binder with a financial profile of themselves at age 25 with the occupation they have chosen. This profile includes income, debt and savings. The MoneyStrong For Life Fair brings the classroom and real world together as students choose how they want to spend their income and experience what managing a household budget is really like. Credit Union staff and members of the business community will be available to provide guidance and learning opportunities for students.
Danville, IL
Back-Pack-Program through Garfield School
After communicating with a school district social worker Landmark CU has enthusiastically decided to start a Back-Pack-Program for the grade school neighborhood children. Nearly 75% of the area's children are eligible for the food program. Unfortunately, the teachers and staff have a strong impression that some students do not have many meals other than the breakfast and lunch offered in the school building. In the Back-Pack-Program, employess at Landmark C U will shop for groceries, and fill back packs for 15 children each week. They will deliver these full back packs to the school on Friday mornings for distribution and pick them back up to refill the next week. Heathly snacks and easy open foods will offer some nutrition for the weekends.
Burbank, CA
Partner to Paint
Initiated in 2006, Lockheed Federal Credit Union’s Partner-to-Paint program is designed to provide assistance to the community by painting a structure in need of an exterior coat of paint, without charge or obligation, in an area LFCU serves. Every year, they paint the exterior of a structure in need. Last year, they painted BCR (Burbank Center for the Retarded), and in 2009, they painted the Burbank Boys and Girls Club. This event is a true community effort, as local businesses help to make it a success.
Traverse City, MI
Boots for Kids
This is a local organization that provides much needed Boots, Mittens, and Socks through schools to children that do not have adequate clothes for the winter months.
Midland, MI
"Popcorn for Education"
At Members First, they believe in the power of education and financial literacy.They began popping popcorn on Fridays to raise money and awareness for financial education. Last year, they awarded over 45 schools with mini grants that they could use towards any educational project.
Stroudsburg, PA
Extreme Couponing for the Community
The NE PA Community Federal Credit Union community outreach efforts includes the American Cancer Society Daffodil Sales, American Red Cross Run for the Red, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bridge Bowl-A-Thon, Bushkill Outreach food drive, Cell Phone for Soldiers, Children’s Miracle Network, the Salvation Army Christmas Angel Tree and Christmas Kettle Campaign, seminars and workshops for the public, guest speakers for classrooms and school functions, student branches in local high schools, and highway cleanup.
Tumwater, WA
Helping Local College Students Survive the Economic Downturn
In these hard economic times, students both young and old who are attending college need every dollar to help them get thru school. With tuition rising, the cost of books, parking and commuting, students are not getting a break. To help these students, O Bee Credit Union is making a huge commitment to local South Puget Sound Community College by placing a FEE FREE Atm in the student commons.
Dublin, OH
Marching Miles for Miracle Kids
Marching Miles for Miracle Kids is a statewide event spearheaded by Ohio HealthCare FCU to raise money for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals in Ohio. The event consists of walkathons around the state, online fundraising, and credit union branch fundraising.
Corvallis, OR
JA in a Day
The JA in a Day project is to bring financial education to approximately 96 classrooms from kindergarten through eighth grade and the possibilities of high schoolers. The Junior Achievement curriculum is directed toward a specific grade. This allows the greatest impact on the students. Each class in a school will be taught in a three-and-half hour time frame simultaneously by Oregon State University students. This is the fourth year that this program model has been in existence and continues to grow.
Klamath Falls, OR
Friends of the Children of the Klamath Basin
This local chapter of a national program pairs a paid mentor with extreme at-risk youth from kindergarten to graduation! The three goals are for the at-risk youth to stay in school and graduate, stay out of the judicial system, and prevent teen parenting. Next year will include 8 of their first graduating students.
Whitefish, MT
Financial Education Free To Choo$e
The Free to Choose program is run by Community Action Partnership of Northwest Montana, sponsored and staffed by Volunteers from Park Side Federal Credit Union. The 12 week family financial literacy course includes dinner, child care and a youth class to learn about budgeting, banking, saving, credit cards, and loans. People who complete the class can be matched with a mentor for a year of support, and have access to a small line of credit provided by Park Side Federal Credit union to help with unexpected expenses and build or rebuild credit.
Pasadena, CA
SEG-Specific Financial Literacy Seminars
Pasadena Federal Credit Union serves more than one hundred Select Employer Groups (SEGs) which include a large private trade school, several homeless services organizations, the 40,000 member Girl Scouts of Greater LA, several organizations that aid abused, abandoned and neglected youth, the Pasadena Humane Society, and a large Head Start provider, to name a few. We work closely with our SEG Ambassadors to identify the financial literacy needs of their employees, volunteers or members.
Allentown, PA
People First Community Outreach
Throughout the year, Board Members, Employees, and families volunteer, donate, and serve on committee boards for several local events, including: Mayfair Festival of the Arts; Inaugural Golf Tournament; American Cancer Society; Second Harvest Food Drive; American Heart Association Heartwalk; Camelot for Children, Inc; LVACT and Lehigh County Early Intervention; Lehigh Valley Community Resource Center: People First hosted three Child ID events at various branch locations.
Redwood City, CA
Rebuilding Together
Formerly called Christmas in April, Rebuilding Together puts teams together for a one day home repair and restore to thousands of homeowners who cannot afford it. Much prep goes into the evaluation, and gathering of materials, appliances and other resources to complete our volunteer work.
Helena, MT
Gallatin County $AFE Program
The $AFE (Securing Access to Financial Education) Program is an innovative program created for women in financial crisis to assist them in accessing a small line of credit, learning how to manage money, building good credit, and increasing savings through a matched savings account.
Saginaw, MI
Send Santa to the Troops
Saginaw Medical Federal Credit Union has supported the Yellow Ribbon Guard since 2010. ‘Send Santa to the Troops’ is a care package drive, run by the Yellow Ribbon Guard, to collect items and donations to send holiday care packages to deployed military personnel. They also provide mailings for deployed soldiers all year long and they reach out to children of fallen soldiers, veterans, wounded soldiers and military families.
San Antonio, TX
Elf Louise Project
For more than 15 years, the employees of the San Antonio Federal Credit Union have been dedicated to provide a little bit of joy to San Antonio’s less fortunate children through the San Antonio Elf Louise Christmas Project. The Elf Louise Christmas Project is a community-based 100% volunteer organization that began in 1969 when the founder, Louise Locker, was a student at Trinity University in San Antonio. She found that for many San Antonio families, Christmas simply did not exist. Louise began to look for a way to provide a few Christmas presents to some of these children. That first year, with the help of a friend, she collected gifts for children in 13 families. Today, the Elf Louise Christmas Project has grown tremendously, and last year, the Elf Louise Program collected over 60,000 gifts.
Box Elder, SD
Bank On Rapid City
Sentinel Federal Credit Union is designated a low income federal credit union by the NCUA since 2003 and is also a Community Development Financial Institution under the U.S. Treasury since 2009. The purpose of a Bank On program in a community is to help moderate and low income people be financially empowered. Without a bank account, families spend hundreds of dollars a year on check cashing fees and money orders. The unbanked have no safe place to keep their money, and are more likely to be victims of crime.
Redwood City, CA
Rebuilding Together
In April each year the El Camino Chapter of CCUL gathers to rehabilitate a home for a needy individual through Rebuilding Together non-profit group.
Madison, WI
Lend a Hand Yard Clean-Up
SMACU is a closed chartered credit union that serves hospital employees and their immediate families. They are also affiliated with GoldenCare, a group of approximately 10,000 people within and around Dane county. They will be offering a spring clean-up for elderly people. The cause would be on a sign up basis, and there would be volunteer teams assigned to different areas of Madison. This event would include leaf raking and light trimming.
St Paul, MN
National Night Out
Yearly St Paul FCU hosts a National Night Out for their Neighborhood. They have had great attendence of more than 300 and it has been growing every year.
Streator, IL
31 Days of Giving
SOCU is proud to be an avid supporter of their surrounding communities.This December, they are celebrating "31 Days of Giving" in conjunction with their Animated Light Show. Every single day in December, a local club, charity, or organization will receive goods and/or services from SOCU employees.
Madison, WI
Pay It Forward
Summit Credit Union wanted to find out from their members what they’d do with a little extra money. So, they will ask them, ”If we gave you $10…what would you do for someone else?” For their answers, they’ll give them $10—free with the assignment to “pay it forward.”
Syracuse, NY
Common Cents Program
Common Cents is a special feature of Cooperative Federal’s VISA Debit Card. Members nominate and vote for favorite nonprofit community organizations to receive awards. Any credit union member can nominate an organization for Common Cents. The credit union shares part of its interchange income with these nonprofit groups each year, based on members' nominations and votes.
Syracuse, NY
Johnson Family Project
Syracuse Fire Dept FCU is helping one of thei seg groups the Syracuse Fire Department help one of their own. One of our retired firefighters is in desparate need of repairs on their home. He has been a foster / adoptive parent and has raised 18 children. He is now suffering from some medical conditions and his home is unsafe and needs major repairs. They have tried to get Extreme Makeover to come and fix his house. They were declined, so they have decided to put together volunteers from the seg and credit union to try to make this happen.
Saginaw, MI
Team One Teacher Grant Program
Team One Credit Union, which was first established as a ‘teacher’s credit union’ in 1935, strives to support educators and youth through the Team One Teacher Grant Program. This program will award numerous $100 grants to local K-12 teachers in the communities that Team One serves. The purpose of the Team One Teacher Grant is to provide some financial assistance in helping teachers accomplish their goals or complete a special classroom project.
Danville, IL
FAST CASH
Tee Pak Credit Union strives to educate their communtiy about different ways to manage their money and spend wisely.
Columbus, GA
Partners in Education
Through their credit union employee team, they have been able to better the lives of many children in the city by providing support in various ways.
Toledo, OH
Finances 101- Volunteer/Teacher overview (video/training video)
Finances 101 is an live game and recently also have a online version of a financial reality game. The game has been in existance for 8 years and has been created by the NW Chapter of the Ohio Credit Union League to assist credit unions to reach students/teachers and parents with alternative financial education tools.
Vacaville, CA
Travis Credit Union Sponsors Cal Grants 2011, "We Believe in You"
In 2006 Travis Credit Union (TCU) partnered with Cruz Bustamante, then Lt. Governor of California, to sponsor an assembly for area high school seniors and juniors to introduce them to the Cal Grants Program, administered by the California Student Aid Commission. This program was originally created to stem the high school dropout rate of at risk youth. A significant portion of the funding allocated for this program goes unfunded every year due to the time constraints and budget cuts on the high school counselors when counseling graduating seniors. Travis Credit Union brings financial literacy to this popular event and has found that each year the event continues to grow.
Palm Beach Gardens, FL
"Community" is our middle name
Velocit participates in several events, including: a beach clean up, a charity bike run, and the literacy coalition's reading day where volunteers went to local pre-Ks and read to the children.
Richmond, VA
Jubilee Assistance Fund
The Jubilee Assistance Fund (JAF) was established as a sensible alternative to predatory lending. JAF is a collaborative loan program where a local church establishes an account at the Virginia United Methodist Credit Union to provide collateralized small, short term loans with very low interest rates for individuals who would not qualify for loans otherwise.
Sarasota, FL
Lunch & Learn Financial Seminars
West Coast Federal Employees Credit Union has taken the basic principles of the Seminar in a Box Financial Education series and converted them to 45 minute overview presentations. They've taken these into one of their SEGs as a Lunch & Learn series and have had great response.
West Seneca, NY
West Seneca Relay For Life 2011
Every year Western New Yourk FCU participates in the West Seneca Relay For Life (American Cancer Society). With the efforts of staff, members and community of West Seneca total to date fundraising dollars for West Seneca Relay For Life (Americn Cancer Society) is $52,680.34.
Grand Junction, CO
Western Colorado High School FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America) District 9 Conference
The Western Colorado High School FBLA District 9 Conference attracts 23 schools and around 550 students each February. Students compete in various aspects.Each year the conference hires a professional key note speaker, plus students also attend 1-4 special topic seminars by local business people. These high school students are learning about personal money management as well as the business world.