Press
Affinity Plus receives community impact award
Credit union’s Plus It Forward program helps it earn award for Best in Class – Large Company.
ST. PAUL, MN. (March 2, 2015) — Making people’s lives better through simple, intentional acts of kindness is the goal of Plus It Forward, an initiative launched in the fall of 2013 by Affinity Plus. Last week, Plus It Forward was the impetus for the credit union being honored with the Minnesota Business Magazine’s Community Impact Award for Best in Class – Large Company, which recognizes companies for overall excellence in positively impacting Minnesota communities.
“Credit unions operate under the ‘People Helping People’ philosophy and Plus It Forward is one way we demonstrate our commitment to our members and community,” states Dave Larson, president and CEO. “It’s purely a good thing, and we welcome all people to participate in doing good things, and sharing their stories whether they live in our state, across the country, or around the world.”
Affinity Plus hosted its second annual organization-wide Plus It Forward Day on Oct. 13, 2014 in which employees at all locations across the state formed teams and developed plans to scatter kindness in their community for the entire day. The teams performed a variety of Plus It Forward acts such as creating and delivering thank you cards to local community heroes, spending time with residents at care centers, and displaying signs along popular streets and areas of cities that shared positive messaging. People who performed or received acts of kindness were encouraged to share their stories on the Plus It Forward website that launched in the summer of 2014.
“The Plus It Forward website makes it easy for people to share their stories about how they spread kindness, or how it affected them as a recipient, so site visitors can read and become inspired to spread kindness and make a difference in other people’s lives,” shares Kate Lee, director of marketing.
More information about Plus It Forward can be found at plusitforward.org.
About Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union
Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union is a not-for-profit cooperative that puts people first above profits. We are committed to empowering consumers – for knowledge, for understanding and to know there are alternatives that focus on the success of people, not the bottom line. Members of Affinity Plus receive maximum value through competitive rates, minimal fees, and unique, member –centric products and programs. Affinity Plus is the largest credit union in Minnesota with state-based assets and has 27 branches located throughout the state. With more than $1.7 billion in assets, Affinity Plus is based in St. Paul and is owned by more than 180,000 members. Through a broad range of eligibility criteria, almost anyone can become a member of Affinity Plus. Additional information is available at www.affinityplus.org or by calling 800-322-7228.
About Plus It Forward
Plus It Forward was created by a group of passionate members and employees of Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union to encourage people to spread kindness and inspire others to do the same. The Plus It Forward website and “You’ve Been Challenged” cards provide tangible pieces to support the movement. The website serves as an archive for stories shared by those who perform and receive acts of kindness and allows site visitors to print a “You’ve Been Challenged” card with a unique code. As the card gets passed from one person to the next, those who have performed and received acts of kindness include the code in their story to track the ripple effect one act of kindness can have. For more information about Plus It Forward, visit www.plusitforward.org.