Dykstra, Long, Martinez and Nusenda Foundation honored by National Credit Union Foundation
Awardees recognized at the 31st Annual Herb Wegner Memorial Awards Dinner
MADISON, WI (March 12, 2019) — The National Credit Union Foundation (the Foundation) presented three Herb Wegner Memorial Awards and one Anchor Award at its annual dinner Monday night during the Credit Union National Association (CUNA) Governmental Affairs Conference (GAC) in Washington, D.C.
Over 900 credit union leaders and supporters attended the Foundation’s annual fundraising gala. The awards ceremony celebrated the highest national honors in the credit union movement and honored those who have made a profound impact and difference in the lives of credit union members.
The Foundation honored Nusenda Credit Union Foundation with an Outstanding Organization Award for their innovation and cooperative leadership in creating their Co-op Capital Program, uplifting the Albuquerque community.
“We are honored to receive recognition in the name of Herb Wegner, who worked so tirelessly to improve people’s financial lives through credit unions,” said Robin Brulé, Nusenda Foundation Executive Director. “We are up to the task – and are looking forward to helping thousands more New Mexicans as we continue to grow our diverse program portfolio aimed at supporting statewide goals for entrepreneurship, economic development, financial education, and family financial mobility.”
The second honoree of the evening was Crystal Long, President and CEO of GECU with an Outstanding Individual Achievement
Award for her unwavering dedication to credit union advocacy and her work to improve the lives of those in the El Paso Community.
“We have a strong focus to elevate our community and our GECU team dedicates each day to work toward this goal,” said Long. “I appreciate the recognition I have received by the Foundation because it’s a true reflection of the dedication and passion that our GECU employees exude each day to accomplish great things in our community.”
The final honoree of the evening was Diana R. Dykstra, President/CEO of the California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues with an Outstanding Individual Achievement Award for her influential leadership and dedication to the advancement of the credit union movement.
“Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought that I would be receiving this tremendous recognition,” said Dykstra. “As one of the thousands upon thousands of credit union champions, I work every day to improve the lives of people and believe me it takes the entire village. I am honored and quite humbled to be singled out for my contributions. The legacy of Herb Wegner and the past recipients is inspiring and will work hard to uphold the legacy.”
The Foundation also awarded Brett Martinez, President/CEO of Redwood Credit Union with an Anchor Award for his exemplary leadership shown during the 2017 California Wildfires.
“I have always left the Wegner awards inspired by the amazing people in our industry and motivated to make a difference,” said Martinez. “I am honored to be recognized for our fire relief efforts, but wish it was under better circumstances. Our corporate office was in a fire-impacted zone and many of our staff and board lost their homes. None of it was easy, but our community needed us and stepping up to help is who we are and what we do.”
Click here to watch the 2019 winners’ tribute videos on YouTube.
This year’s winners joined an elite group of 72 individuals and 28 organizations whose efforts over the past 30 years have earned them the recognition of Herb Wegner Memorial Awards.
*Note to editors – here are a few awardee pictures:
About National Credit Union Foundation
The National Credit Union Foundation (the Foundation) is the charitable arm of the U.S. credit union movement and works as a catalyst to improve people’s financial lives through credit unions. Through grants and programs, the Foundation is strengthening financial well-being, igniting passion, and instilling knowledge about the credit union difference, and uniting resources to help credit union people during disaster. Donations to the Foundation ultimately enable credit unions to help their members reach life-changing goals and achieve financial freedom.
About the Herb Wegner Memorial Awards
The awards are named in honor of the late Credit Union National Association CEO Herb Wegner, whose tireless dedication, innovative ideas and deeds truly revolutionized the ways that credit unions serve their communities. The awards that bear Wegner’s name recognize his spirit of “innovative, creative, risk-taking” leadership. View past award recipients here.
