Press
Two grants given out by Greater Southwest Chapter of Credit Unions
ST. JOSEPH, MI (March 3, 2015) — The Greater Southwest Chapter of Credit Unions has awarded a $1,500 grant to both Christian Service Center in Niles and Consequential Minds in Benton Harbor.
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 donation to Christian Service Center was presented to Tom Mollison, Treasurer of Christian Service Center, by Dave Van Strien, CEO of Greater Niles Community Federal Credit Union and treasurer of the Greater Southwest Chapter of Credit Unions at his credit union’s main office in Niles on February 13. Also present were Patty Mollison of Christian Service Center, Scott McFarland, CEO of Honor Credit Union, Fran Terry, CEO of Country Heritage Credit Union, Lorie Owen, United Federal Credit Union Niles Branch Manager, and Lindsay Thomas, Honor Credit Union Marketing Manager.
The donation to Consequential Minds was presented to John Reed, Director of Consequential Minds, by Van Strien at the St. Joseph office of Honor Credit Union on February 20. Also present were Mary Unruh, Vice President of Finance for Honor Credit Union and Emily Szmkiewicz, United Federal Credit Union St. Joseph Branch Manager.
“The Greater Southwest Chapter of Credit Unions is proud to support organizations 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 Van Strien.
Christian Service Center is a food pantry located at St. Mary’s Church in Niles. It provides food to over 160 families each month and is run by a volunteer staff from many churches. The grant will help the organization secure more food for people who need it as they continue to experience a greater need from those they serve.
Consequential Minds is a drop-in center for individuals with severe mental illness. It helps the individuals who use the center to normalize into the community, recover from serious problems, help with crisis, and also provides employment for some of the people it serves who may have difficulty finding work in other businesses. The grant will help fund daily living expenses for those served by the drop-in center, and will be stretched even further by a matching grant that Consequential Minds benefits from.
Christian Services Check Presentation
Pictured from left: Fran Terry, CEO of Country Heritage Credit Union, Lorie Owen, United Federal Credit Union Niles Branch Manager, Scott McFarland, CEO of Honor Credit Union, Dave Van Strien, CEO of Greater Niles Community Federal Credit Union, Tom and Patty Mollison of Christian Service Center, and Lindsay Thomas, Honor Credit Union Marketing Manager.
Consequential Minds Check Presentation
Pictured from left: Emily Szmkiewicz, United Federal Credit Union St. Joseph Branch Manager, Dave Van Strien, CEO of Greater Niles Community Federal Credit Union, John Reed, Director of Consequential Minds, and Mary Unruh, Vice President of Finance for Honor Credit Union.