Lifting up communities

As a summer marked by uncertainty but eased by outdoor relief slips by, credit unions continue to lift up the communities they serve by providing resources and monetary support.

Some of the ways credit unions are assisting their communities:

Chartway Federal Credit Union

The We Promise Foundation, the charitable arm of Chartway Federal Credit Union, Virginia Beach, Va., hosted a surprise parade for Ames, a 14-year-old boy who has battled cancer most of his life. The foundation funded his wish to go to Walt Disney World. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, the trip was postponed. But Chartway Federal staff paraded their decorated vehicles by Ames' house, honking, waving, playing music, blowing bubbles, and spreading some much-needed joy.

PenFed Credit Union

PenFed Credit Union, Tysons, Va., welcomed its seventh veteran service dog, Ace. As a part of PenFed’s philanthropic focus on supporting the military community, the credit union partners with America’s VetDogs to foster and train dogs to care for military veterans and first responders with disabilities.

Firefly Credit Union

Firefly Credit Union, Burnsville, Minn., donated school supplies, food, personal care products, and other essentials to several organizations in the Twin Cities to help families in need. “Firefly truly believes in and embraces the credit union philosophy of people helping people,” says Dale Turner, president/CEO. “We strive to give back to our communities whenever and however we can. Donating food and essential supplies for those in need is just one way we give back.”

Redwood Credit Union

Redwood Credit Union (RCU), Santa Rosa, Calif., hosted a free, 60-minute webcast, “Self-Care and Stress Management: Tools and Best Practices for Coping with COVID-19 and Beyond.” The webcast is available on RCU’s YouTube channel.

As a summer marked by uncertainty but eased by outdoor relief slips by, credit unions continue to lift up the communities they serve by providing resources and monetary support.

Some of the ways credit unions are assisting their communities:

Royal Credit Union

Royal Credit Union, Eau Claire, Wis., is donating $20,000 plus an additional $10,000 to a matching contribution fund to the Frogtown and Rondo Community Business Recovery Fund in Minnesota. The fund supports local businesses, many owned by people of color, which experienced damage during recent unrest in St. Paul, Minn.

GTE Financial Credit Union

GTE Financial Credit Union, Tampa, Fla., presented its employees with $25 gift cards to make charitable donations or support a local restaurants or small businesses as part of the industry-wide initiative #CreditUnionsCareChallenge. For participating in the challenge, each credit union receives matching funds from the Southeastern Credit Union Foundation. GTE put that money back into the community as well by donating the matching funds to St. Vincent de Paul CARES, a local institution that fights homelessness in Tampa Bay.

Envision Credit Union

Did you know 1 in 4 children go to bed hungry every night? That's why we are so excited to kick off our partnership with Second Harvest of the Big Bend to "Envision No Hunger". For more information and to donate, visit: https://t.co/kws7Ho3iFE pic.twitter.com/IVOGF3m1cl

— Envision (@EnvisionCU) July 1, 2020

The “Envision No Hunger” campaign encourages local businesses to support Second Harvest of the Big Bend’s Backpack Program, with Envision Credit Union, Tallahassee, Fla., pledged to match up to $30,000 in donations throughout July. The food bank provides more than 1,300 bags of food weekly to students in need.

San Diego County Credit Union

San Diego County Credit Union (SDCCU) partnered with the San Diego Blood Bank to host a blood drive at four SDCCU locations, collecting 121 pints blood, which will help save 360 lives.