NEW YORK, N.Y.–Inclusiv has announced the winners of its highest honors, the Annie Vamper Helping Hands Award.
Selected for the honor are Veronica Casillas-Madrigal, president of Self-Help FCU, and Stanley Washington, a board member with Berean Credit Union.
“Both Veronica and Stanley are true heroes of the community development credit union (CDCU) movement for their leadership and steadfast dedication to making a positive impact on their communities,” Inclusiv stated.
The Annie Vamper Helping Hands Award is the organization’s highest honor and is awarded to individuals who make “extraordinary contributions” to advancing the mission and work of CDCUs.
The award was created in 1993 in honor of Annie Vamper, a “tireless advocate, who dedicated herself to improving people’s lives through credit unions,” Inclusiv said.
About the Winners
According to Inclusiv, Casillas-Madrigal is a 35-year credit union veteran based in Napa, Calif., who lives the philosophy of “people helping people.”
“Starting as an intern for a small credit union, she turned every project she took on and turned it into a success,” Inclusiv said. “This journey has led her to become President of Self-Help Credit Union where members and colleagues describe her as a devoted leader who puts her heart and soul into serving her community.”
Inclusiv quoted Casillas-Madrigal as saying, “It has been a joy to be part of the community development credit union movement for the last 35+ years. As CDCUs, we get to make a difference every day – not just for the individual members we serve, but for entire communities. Community development finance is all about the power of opportunity. We know from decades of experience that when you remove barriers, address injustices, and expand economic opportunity to include more people, we all thrive. CDCUs make the world better for all of us.”
‘A Positive Force’
Inclusiv said Washington has consistently been a positive force for change at Berean Credit Union, a faith-based credit union on the South Side of Chicago.
“At one time, faith-based credit unions were the only financial institutions that would lend to people of color and provide them the opportunity to build assets,” Inclusiv said. “Berean honors Chicago’s pivotal role in this legacy and thanks to leaders like Stanley the mission to continue to offer safe, affordable and reliable financial products to its predominantly Black South Side community remains strong. Stanley not only supports Berean but all of Chicago’s faith based credit unions through his leadership in the Faith Based Credit Union Alliance (FBCUA).”
‘Essential’ Role
Inclusiv quoted Washington as saying, “Community development credit unions are essential because they provide access to capital and a financial safe space to communities that have historically been disenfranchised. The mission-based approach sets the stage for community participation in an effort to combat systemic exploitation. I am passionate about the work we do at our credit unions, and I am committed to doing all I can to help them grow and thrive for years to come.”
‘Excited to Honor’
“We are very excited to honor Veronica and Stanley this year in Cleveland to thank them for their decades of service and valuable contributions to the movement,” Inclusiv CEO Cathie Mahon said in a statement. “Like Annie Vamper, they have committed their lives to helping their communities become financially empowered through credit unions. We can’t wait to celebrate them at our 51st annual conference.””
Presentation in Cleveland
The winners will be honored at the Inclusiv Conference 2025 at the Annie Vamper Luncheon during the meeting, which takes place from April 28th to May 1st in Cleveland. For info: click here.