GREENSBORO, N.C.–Credit unions across the country are marking International Credit Union Week and today’s International Credit Union Day in a variety of ways.
Numerous credit unions used Monday’s holiday to have staff volunteer in their communities. Other activities are planned for today.
Day of Service at Vizo
Vizo Financial Corporate Credit Union said it showed up in support of the community for its annual Day of Service on Oct. 13. Each year in the fall, employees of the corporate unite for the Day of Service by volunteering at several organizations throughout Central Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh, Greensboro, N.C., and Columbia, S.C., Vizo said.
“The Day of Service is an annual event that Vizo Financial launched in 2019,” Vizo Financial stated. “This year, a total of 112 Vizo Financial staff members, along with family members and friends, participated in this meaningful, community-focused event. Volunteers helped with organizing donated items, serving meals, packaging meal kits, crafting blankets, clearing debris in outdoor spaces, making event preparations and more.
It provided assistance to:
- American Cancer Society
- Caitlin’s Smiles
- Cocoa Packs
- Family Room
- Hospice of Central PA
- Leg Up Farm
- Love the Hill
- Midwest Food Bank
- Oliver Gospel
- Open Door Ministries of High Point
‘Upholding the Mission’
“The Day of Service is a great opportunity for our team to come together and collaborate with community members, upholding our mission of people helping people,” President/CEO Fred Eisel said in a statement. “We’ve partnered with so many outstanding organizations over the years, and it’s wonderful to witness the impact the credit union movement has on the communities we serve.”
Added VP-Administration Erin Doan in a statement, “I look forward to this experience every year to connect with our communities and demonstrate one of our organization’s core values, which is passion for service. We’ve created a meaningful tradition worth celebrating, and I look forward to building on this volunteer opportunity in the years to come.”
Golden 1 Marks Day
In California, Golden 1 Credit Union said it is celebrating International Credit Union Day at its Sacramento headquarters by bringing together state and federal officials, community leaders, and credit union partners. The celebration is part of a statewide series of events designed to highlight the unity and collaboration of the credit union movement, the credit union said.
The program will feature insights from Donna Bland, president and CEO; Erica Taylor, SVP-community impact and public relations, and elected officials serving as guest speakers.
Employment Enrichment Day
In York Penn., on Monday First Capital Federal Credit Union employees took part in Employee Enrichment Day. The day kicked off at the York County Food Bank, where employees worked together in an assembly line to put together boxes of food to help feed those in need in our community.
“This is always a great day for staff to give back to the community,” SVP-Marketing Tara Houser Minetos said in a statement. “But it also ended up being a great team building exercise because everyone’s job no matter how big or small was essential to keeping the line moving efficiently.”
First Capital Federal Credit Union also held a food drive at its branches during September and gave the donations to the York County Food Bank.
Day of Service in Washington
In Richland, Wash., Gesa Credit Union held its fourth annual Day of Service with one of its largest volunteer efforts to date. On Indigenous Peoples’ Day, Gesa closed the majority of its branches so that more than 490 team members could step out of the office and into their local communities, it said.
This year, more than 70 organizations across the Pacific Northwest benefited from their efforts.
Gesa team members dedicated 2,177 hours volunteering at a wide range of organizations and nonprofits across Washington, Idaho and Oregon. Their efforts supported food banks like Northwest Harvest and the Oregon Food Bank, youth programs such as the Boys & Girls Clubs and The Arc of Tri-Cities, animal shelters including the Benton Franklin Humane Society, and hospitals and health organizations like Seattle Children’s Hospital. Volunteers also lent their time to schools, senior centers, and environmental projects, “making a meaningful difference in communities large and small,” the credit unions aid.
Since 2022, Gesa said its annual Day of Service has mobilized more than 2,000 volunteers. Together, the credit union’s team members have invested over 9,730 hours of collective service, supporting more than 185 local organizations overall.
Community Impact Day in Wisconsin
In Green Bay, Wis., Capital Credit Union hosted its annual Community Impact Day, with 450 employees giving back to its communities. Together, employees contributed an estimated 1,350 volunteer hours across 24 nonprofit organizations throughout Northeastern Wisconsin, the credit union said.
Volunteer activities ranged from preparing gardens for the winter season to assisting with food preparation, reflecting the diverse needs of our communities. Community Impact Day exemplifies Capital Credit Union’s mission of Doing the Right Thing and underscores our commitment to fostering strong, vibrant communities.
Community Impact Day was held in conjunction with the Wisconsin Credit Union League’s CU Community Days.
Help for Foster Kids
In California, Santa Rosa-based Redwood Credit Union partnered with Foster Love, a Brea-based nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of children in foster care. Approximately 1,000 RCU employees spent the day at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds in Santa Rosa assembling nearly 4,000 care bags and birthday boxes – enough for every foster youth in San Francisco and the North Bay counties RCU serves.
“We are passionate about advancing meaningful and sustainable change to ensure current and future generations are strong, resilient, and continue to thrive,” President and CEO Brett Martinez said in a statement. “This event brings our team together in a shared purpose, connecting each person to something bigger than themselves.”
Unitus Community Creates Video
In Oregon, Unitus Community Credit Union has created a video specially for International Credit Union Day. The video can be viewed here.
