(October 9, 2013) -- Minnesota Family Involvement Council offers $10,000 in scholarships for 2014-15 school year
Last month, the Family Involvement Council (FIC) announced the opening of its 2013-2014 scholarship program for Minnesota to credit union members continuing their education. The FIC will award $10,000 in college scholarships next spring.
Two $1,000 scholarships and sixteen $500 scholarships will be awarded to 18 credit union members throughout Minnesota. To apply, credit union members must complete a one-page application form and submit an essay that answers the question: "The average age of credit union members in Minnesota is 47 years old. To be sustainable, credit unions need to serve younger generations, as well. What can credit unions do to attract and engage young adult consumers?"
"The FIC has a long tradition of supporting Minnesota consumers who are continuing their education," said FIC Chair Bridget Moeller of Greater Minnesota Credit Union. "As we have done for the past 16 years, the FIC is proud to provide scholarships to both high school students entering college, as well as working adults that are completing undergraduate or masters' degrees."
The FIC Scholarship Program was established in 1997. Since its inception, the committee has reviewed 11,934 applications and awarded $136,500 in scholarships. For additional information, visit www.mnfic.org.
Minnesota Credit Unions for Kids committee raises more than $35,000 to benefit local children’s hospital
This summer, Minnesota Credit Unions for Kids (MnCU4Kids) hosted its 18th annual golf tournament fundraiser to support Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare, helping kids with disabilities and chronic conditions. Gillette, based in St. Paul with outreach clinics located around the state, is Minnesota's Children's Miracle Network-affiliated hospital.
This summer’s tournament -- held at the Refuge Golf Club in Oak Grove -- raised more than $35,000. The 2013 total includes $10,000 from CO-OP Financial Services' Miracle Match program. The tournament's 105 golfers represented 14 credit unions and 18 vendor organizations.
"Credit unions and vendors give so much support to Credit Unions for Kids, and we're proud to be able to coordinate a casual and fun event for such a great cause," said MnCU4Kids Co-Chair Marlo Hirl of General Mills Federal Credit Union. "It's great to see the continued enthusiasm and growing participation from both credit unions and vendors, and to know that this tournament is still an annual tradition for so many."
Credit Unions for Kids is the brand under which America's credit unions fundraise for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals. The collaborative effort, which is driven by a "people helping people" philosophy, includes individual credit unions, local chapters, state leagues/associations, and business partners.
The program was introduced nationally in 1996 and since that time the credit union movement has raised over $100 million for affiliated children's hospitals. Annually, credit unions are the third largest "corporate" contributor to Children's Miracle Network Hospitals behind only WalMart and Costco.
In 2012, MnCU4Kids raised more than $200,000 for Gillette. All money raised through MnCU4Kids program supports Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare. For additional information, visit www.mncu4kids.org.
Both the FIC and MnCU4Kids committees are fundraising groups that operate as part of the Minnesota Credit Union Foundation, which is an organization dedicated to providing the resources for credit unions and communities to prosper and thrive.