Baton Rouge, LA (June 2, 2025) |
The Luminate Foundation is proud to announce Judy DeLucca, President and CEO of New Orleans Firemen’s Federal Credit Union (NOFFCU), as the recipient of the 2025 Legends Award—the Foundation’s highest honor recognizing transformational leadership and lifetime achievement in advancing financial equity and resilience. In 2014, DeLucca was inducted into the Louisiana Credit Union Hall of Fame, honoring her contributions to the state’s credit union movement.
A trailblazer and visionary, Judy DeLucca has redefined what it means to serve through a credit union. Over an extraordinary 45-year career, she transformed NOFFCU into a national model for financial empowerment, reaching its members with unwavering dedication to compassion, innovation, and justice. Through initiatives like the Faith Fund—a nationally recognized nonprofit collaboration—Judy created ethical, community-rooted alternatives to predatory lending, saving members over $13.7 million to date. DeLucca’s legacy includes pioneering the Financial Inclusion Team (FIT)—a first-of-its-kind initiative delivering customized financial coaching and alternative pathways for members traditionally excluded by conventional lending standards. Guided by Judy’s belief that every “no” must come with a roadmap to “yes,” FIT has helped countless individuals reclaim financial dignity and independence. Judy’s belief in the power of second chances has changed thousands of lives. From affordable mortgage products to transportation-saving auto loans, her programs address real-world challenges with dignity and practical solutions. Today, 70% of NOFFCU’s $194 million loan portfolio is directed toward low-to-moderate income members, and FIT participants average a 30-point credit score increase—evidence of sustained impact at scale.
An outspoken advocate, DeLucca has testified before the Louisiana Legislature and has represented the movements at statewide and national speaking engagements. Through these opportunities, Judy has helped elevate credit unions from financial institutions to pillars of community resilience.
DeLucca’s dedication to growing future movement leaders has led her to mentor dozens of credit union leaders—two of whom now serve as CEOs. Judy’s most enduring legacy is not simply what she has built, but who she has empowered to build after her.
Judy’s legacy is immortalized not only through awards and accolades, but through national case studies, industry best practices, and – most importantly – the thousands of grateful members whose lives she has helped irrevocably change. Her legacy lives on not just in the institutions she built, but in the communities she empowered and the future leaders she’s mentored.
“On behalf of Luminate, I extend our heartfelt congratulations,” said President & CEO, Juan Fernandez. "We are thrilled to celebrate Judy DeLucca's selection! Judy has been a remarkable leader and trailblazer in Louisiana, serving as a role model for credit unions across the nation. Her dedication to the credit union mission and her ability to demonstrate the profound impact of cooperative financing are truly inspiring. Congratulations, Judy!"
Judy DeLucca will be formally recognized and celebrated during the Luminate Convention’s Awards Ceremony on Thursday, June 12th at 4:30 PM.
The Legends Award celebrates individuals whose contributions have significantly advanced the growth and sustainability of credit unions at both the local, state, and national levels.
