Press

ALAMAZOO, MI (March 12, 2015) — The Greater Southwest Chapter of Credit Unions has awarded a $1,500 grant to both the Comstock Community Center and Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes.

The Chapter raises the funds for these grants at its annual summer golf outing. Recipients must be a 501c3 in the Chapter’s geographic area and their mission and goals must support the overall Credit Union Philosophy of “People Helping People”. Grant recipients were determined by a panel of Chapter representatives.

The checks were presented to Mary Gustas, Executive Director of the Comstock Community Center and Greta Faworski, Director of Resources and Development of Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes by Kris Lewis, Senior Lending Manager at Kellogg Community Federal Credit Union and Matt Lahman, Chief Operations Officer at Kalsee Credit Union. The checks were presented before representatives from several other local credit unions at the Chapter Annual Meeting.

“The Greater Southwest Chapter of Credit Unions is proud to support organizations or projects that help raise the overall level of social and economic well-being in the communities served by credit unions in our chapter through grants,” said Earle Shelner, Vice President of Finance at Educational Community Credit Union and Chairman of the Greater Southwest Chapter of Credit Unions.

Comstock Community Center impacts about 200 people each weekday with services that improve quality of life for children, families and older adults across a broad spectrum of life circumstances. Services support housing stability, food security, physical and mental health, social connection, creative expression and a place for community group gatherings. The community center has two locations: Kings Highway in Comstock and the Learning Center on River Street.

Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes feeds hungry people in the local community and works to end the hunger problem. They are able to maximize every donation, purchasing enough food for three meals with each dollar donated.

The Greater Southwest Chapter of Credit Unions is a subdivision of the Michigan Credit Union League. The Chapter is comprised of representatives from various southwest Michigan credit unions and has a mission of community support, as well as promoting legislative and regulatory advocac y among its local government officials.

Photo caption: Comstock Community Center: Pictured from left: Kris Lewis, Senior Lending Manager at Kellogg Community Federal Credit Union and Mary Gustas, Executive Director of the Comstock Community Center.

Photo caption: Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes: Pictured from left:  Greta Faworski, Director of Resources and Development of Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes and Matt Lahman, Chief Financial Officer at Kalsee Credit Union.