IRWINDALE, Calif.–Aiming to build on the success of its 2024 National Foster Care Awareness Month campaign, Rize Credit Union said it is expanding its partnership with Comfort Cases and Barely Canadian to provide ongoing support for youth in foster care.
“What began as a one-month initiative – donating a Comfort Cases backpack and Barely Canadian hoodie for every new account opened – has since evolved into a year-round program, where every youth in foster care who opens a bank account with Rize receives a Comfort Cases and a Barely Canadian hoodie — a heartfelt welcome gift into the Rize Credit Union family,” the credit union said.
It added it is also enhancing its 24-month Impact Certificate, which earns members a 3% APY, while the credit union donates an additional 2% to foster care initiatives.
Donations Being Made
In addition, Rize said it will resume last year’s National Foster Care Awareness Month campaign during May as well – for every new account opened through rizecu.com/makeadifference, the credit union said it will donate a Comfort Case and Barely Canadian hoodie to youth in foster care.
As a result of the original campaign, Rize donated 1,000 Comfort Cases and Barely Canadian hoodies directly to youth in foster care in Southern California and Southern Nevada.
The combined value of each donated Comfort Case and Barely Canadian hoodie exceeds $400.
According to Rize, the expanded partnership strengthens Rize’s support of youth in foster care, which also includes a partnership with Los Angeles County for their Youth Access Banking program. The program allows youth in foster care as young as 13 years old to open their own checking and savings accounts without an adult co-owner, with Rize providing an initial $5 deposit to establish the savings account.
‘Heart of Mission’
“Partnerships like these are at the heart of our mission to not only uplift our members but also the larger communities around us,” President and CEO Jennifer Oliver said in a statement. “We believe that when each community member is valued and treated with dignity and respect, we can secure better futures for all. Barely Canadian and Comfort Cases share this vision, making it an easy decision to expand our work together.”
Rize noted there are approximately 368,000 youth in foster care in the United States. They are typically given a trash bag to pack up their belongings when they’re removed from their homes.
“Removing trash bags from the system, Comfort Cases backpacks are filled with new, essential comfort and personal care items for youth entering and exiting foster care, including pajamas, blankets, towels, hygiene kits, books, journals, coloring books, crayons or pencils, and stuffed animals” Rize added.
A video from the August 2024 packing parties HERE.