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Members to decide how three green-inspired organizations will benefit from Educational Community Credit Union’s #makeastatement campaign

KALAMAZOO, MI (November 14, 2014) — Members at Educational Community Credit Union (ECCU) are making a difference to three local organizations through its #makeastatement campaign. These green-inspired organizations include the Fresh Food Fairy, Kalamazoo Nature Center, and Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy. Through February 28, 2015, members who enroll in eStatements can vote for their favorite of the three; a $3,000 donation is up for grabs. ECCU will then allocate funds accordingly to each organization based on votes received.

Social media channels are central to the campaign and members encouraged to share their experiences in going green and decision to reduce paper waste. Some are sharing memories from the organizations represented.

Anyone can add to the online conversation using the hashtag, #makeastatement:

Tweet @ECCU1 with hashtag #makeastatement
Comment on ECCU’s wall, tag it with #makeastatement
 Show ECCU by video how to #makeastatement

“Members are having fun with the promotion, and more are signing up for eStatements,” adds ECCU Marketing Manager Tina Mason. “They also like being able to show public support for their favorite green-based organization.”

Mother Nature Called….

The credit union’s affinity with the outdoors inspired the campaign and supports its goal for improving the natural environment. “By the promotion’s end, we want to see a 15% decrease in the number of paper statements printed and mailed,” explains Mason.

The campaign’s use of expressive statements, photos, and short three-minute videos bring to life the three organizations. The visuals are strong and emotionally appealing.

“We went onsite with videographer, Dan Martin of Kzoom, so members could learn more about the mission of each organization,” says Mason. Ultimately, it’s the members who get to decide how much each organization will receive from the $3,000 pot.

“We’re honored to help these unique organizations with the funds they need,” concludes Mason. “We’re also excited to see members taking on the cause and doing their part.”

With seven convenient locations, ECCU is a full-service financial institution serving anyone who lives or works in a 21-county area in West Michigan. For details on credit union membership, visit www.eccu1.org. For full promotion details, go to www.eccu1.org/makeastatement.

About ECCU
Established in 1935, ECCU has grown from serving only Kalamazoo school employees, to serving the greater educational community, to now providing a full range of financial products and services to anyone who lives, works, worships or attends school in any of our 21 Michigan counties. The credit union exceeds $412 million in assets and serves more than 37,000 members. Visit eccu1.org to learn more about membership and why ECCU just feels right, and our members feel right at home.

About The Fresh Food Fairy
Hether Jonna-Frayer started Fresh Food Fairy after working in her area school’s cafeteria and seeing how much food was going to waste. “I wanted to teach kids that fresh foods can be fun.” Hence, the Fresh Food Fairy was born. She supports the local economy by purchasing seasonal fruits and vegetables from local farmers. Jonna-Frayer also makes classroom visits and presentations, and shows how to make nutritional smoothies on her ‘Bike Blender.’ For details, visit freshfoodfairy.org


About The 
Kalamazoo Nature Center
Established in 1964, the Kalamazoo Nature Center (KNC) is one of the oldest Nature Centers in the country operating on more than 1,200 acres. More than xxx visit the center annually. It is home to many displaced animals and offers both indoor and outdoor educational exhibits. Representative Lisa Panich says its Birds of Prey program is one of their most popular and most expensive programs to operate; ECCU funds will be used to support the exhibit. For details, visit www.naturecenter.org.

About The Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy
The Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy (SWMLC) helps preserve wild and scenic landscapes in southwest Michigan. It protects nearly 13,000 acres of dunes, wetlands, forests, savannas, prairies, farms, and vineyards. Additionally, SWMLC owns 44 nature preserves and protects seven miles of hiking trails. Representative Nate Fuller says it operates entirely by local funds, and helps to conserve many natural habitats in the area for the enjoyment of residents. For details, visit www.swmlc.org.

 


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