Gesa Credit Union partners with Tri-Cities High Schools to launch new Affinity Cards benefitting local students
The Affinity Cards will support Tri-Cities Prep Catholic High School, River’s Edge High School and Tri-Tech Skills Center
RICHLAND, WA (April 16, 2024) — Gesa, a community-focused credit union, announced today it is partnering with three Tri-Cities schools to launch new co-branded Affinity Debit Cards to raise funds for programs benefiting local students. With every swipe, the new co-branded Affinity Debit Cards will support Tri-Cities Prep Catholic High School, River’s Edge High School, and Tri-Tech Skills Center students.
“This initiative underscores Gesa’s commitment to our community and provides a tangible way for our members to support education and join us in giving back through their everyday purchases. We are honored to bring this impactful program to more schools so that we can continue to make a difference in the lives of students throughout the region,” said Brandon Allison, AVP of Training, Education and Community Relations at Gesa Credit Union.
Tri-Cities Prep Catholic High School
The Tri-Cities Prep Catholic High School Affinity Card launches today, and is the first partnership between Gesa and Tri-Cities Prep.
“We are so proud to partner with Gesa Credit Union as a member of their Affinity Card program,” said Katie Nelson, Development Director at Tri-Cities Prep Catholic High School. “This program gives our students, their families, and our entire community a way to support Tri-Cities Prep by doing something they already do as part of their routine – using their Tri-Cities Prep debit card to make everyday purchases.”
River’s Edge High School
The River’s Edge High School Affinity Card is the latest addition to Gesa’s existing partnership with the Richland School District. The new card will launch on April 17.
“We are excited to continue our outstanding partnership with Gesa, offering River’s Edge High School students and families a new way to display their Firebird pride,” said Shawna Dinh, Public Information Officer for the Richland School District. “Everyday purchases made with the Affinity Debit Card will provide support for school programs and guarantee equitable access for all River’s Edge students.”
Tri-Tech Skills Center
As part of an existing partnership with the Kennewick School District, the new Affinity Debit Card for Tri-Tech Skills Center launches on April 18.
“We are thrilled to provide students with the opportunity to engage in real marketing initiatives through our continued partnership with Gesa Credit Union and its Affinity Card program,” said Robyn Chastain, Executive Director of Communications & Public Relations at Kennewick School District. “Not only does this program give our community a way to show their Tri-Tech pride, but they also support students across our district by doing something they already do every day – using their debit card to purchase things like groceries, gas, and households.”
Program Impact
Gesa’s Co-Branded Affinity Debit Card Program supports local schools by donating money to partner districts each time a card is used. Launched in 2015, to date the Affinity Debit Card Program has raised more than $1.34 million for local partner school districts and universities, awarding more than $340,000 in 2023 alone.
The co-branded Affinity Debit Cards are available exclusively at Gesa Credit Union and are free to Gesa members with a checking account. There is no fee for members to switch their card to any of the school designs. Anyone who lives, works, or worships in Washington is eligible to become a member and support their local schools.
For more information about Gesa Credit Union and its Affinity Debit Card Program, visit www.gesa.com.
About Gesa Credit Union
Gesa Credit Union is one of Washington’s largest credit unions with over $5.5 billion in assets and is nearly 290,000 members strong. Gesa is a full-service financial institution that offers a complete array of consumer, mortgage, and business products and services. Headquartered in Richland, Washington, Gesa operates 29 branches, loan centers, full-service student-operated campus branches at Washington State University, and 13 student-operated high school branches across Washington state. The Gesa Community Foundation, established in 2022, further supports Gesa’s ongoing commitment to local communities and charitable giving, which includes support for schools, Local Heroes groups, and community organizations through its Affinity Debit Card Program, as well as through its annual youth scholarships, and free financial and educational resources available to members and the general public. For more information, visit gesa.com.
