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SECU Foundation Lauded for Philanthropic Efforts in Brunswick County
Raleigh, NC – The Cape Fear Region Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (CFR-AFP) recently announced State Employees’ Credit Union (SECU) as the 2012 Philanthropic Organization of the Year. The honor was given in recognition of SECU members’ many charitable contributions via the SECU Foundation, including a $1 million gift for SECU Hospice House of Brunswick in Bolivia, NC, which opened in July 2012. The award recognizes a philanthropic corporation or organization whose grant programs, gifts and charitable activities enrich a community. SECU representatives were on hand for the presentation, including SECU Foundation Board Chair Jim Barber, who accepted the award during the CFR-AFP’s National Philanthropy Day Awards event, held on November 8th in Wilmington, NC.
SECU and SECU Foundation share active roles in demonstrating the credit union philosophy of “People Helping People,” assisting NC organizations and communities through philanthropy and various community involvement programs. SECU Foundation primarily funds high impact projects in the areas of housing, education, healthcare, and human services that are beyond the normal scope of the Credit Union. Since 2004, the Foundation has awarded over
$65 million in grants and more than $8 million this past year to various non-profits and programs, including $4 million in high school and community college scholarships. SECU Crystal Coast Hospice House in Newport, NC, Echo Ridge Teacher Housing in Raeford, NC, and the SECU Family House at New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington, NC also benefited from SECU members’ generosity.
Several Credit Union statewide community programs were also recognized during the event. Those included the sale of bluebird houses, a natural environmental improvement project to benefit NC’s bluebird population, a partnership with local schools to display creative artwork of K-12th grade students in SECU branches, and the Credit Union’s annual SECU Supports the Troops campaign which sends 5,000 holiday gift boxes to NC Guardsmen and other NC based deployed soldiers.
Mr. Barber comments, “We are honored to accept this award on behalf of SECU members for their gift to the SECU Hospice House of Brunswick and for their many other charitable efforts. State Employees’ Credit Union and its members are truly committed to being an integral part of NC communities, striving to make a significant and meaningful difference in the lives of our State’s citizens.”
About SECU and the SECU Foundation
SECU is a not-for-profit financial cooperative owned by its members. SECU has been providing the employees of the State of North Carolina and their families with consumer financial services for 75 years. With close to 1.8 million members, SECU provides services through 245 branch offices, 1,100 ATMs, 24/7 Contact Centers and a website, www.ncsecu.org. The SECU Foundation, a 501c (3) charitable organization funded solely by the contributions of SECU members, promotes local community development in North Carolina primarily through high impact projects in the areas of housing, education, healthcare and human services.