Dakota Credit Union Association (DAKCU) is proud to announce the winners of the CU Social Good Award. This prestigious award recognizes one credit union in each of three asset categories that has positively affected their community and the Dakota credit union movement. The following credit unions were recognized during the awards banquet at the association’s annual Summit in Sioux Falls earlier this month.
$126 Million and Over in Assets: First Community Credit Union, Jamestown, ND. With the input of 250 employees, this credit union chooses a different organization to support each quarter. In 2019, one of their charities was the North Dakota “Support Our Veterans Fund.” After multiple fundraisers, the credit union donated $10,000 to this veterans’ organization and another $500 for Service Dogs for America. In addition, staff raised money to send a local veteran on an Honor Flight to Washington, DC and participated in Operation Gratitude, an outreach program that resulted in nearly 1,000 letters and cards thanking active and retired military for their service.
$25 Million to $125 Million in Assets: East River Federal Credit Union, Madison, SD. In 2019, with the help of their entire staff, East River FCU delivered hundreds of meals through the Meals-on-Wheels program. They also filled the wishes of dozens of Angel Tree gift requests and volunteered for an event to benefit area flood victims.
Under $25 Million in Assets: University Federal Credit Union, Grand Forks, ND. Staff at University FCU created “Operation Santa’s Got a Brand New Bag” and provided 75 personal hygiene and snack bags to be distributed to children in need during the holiday break.
CU Social Good was established by the Dakota Credit Union Association in 2013 as a forum for sharing stories about the good things credit unions do in their communities. In 2019, the CU Social Good platform documented $27.5 million in charitable donations and scholarships plus nearly 50,000 volunteer hours nationwide from participating credit unions. North Dakota alone documented over $460,000 in community impact, while South Dakota logged over $860,000 in community impact. Even in the midst of a pandemic, credit unions have actually increased their community giving and the association expects 2020 numbers to be even greater.