WATERLOO, IA (November 21, 2016) — Veridian Credit Union has awarded 18 organizations across Iowa and eastern Nebraska a total of $80,000 for its 2016 grant funding cycle. Recipients demonstrated a commitment to one of Veridian’s two areas of focus: financial literacy and community inclusion.
“Inclusion and financial literacy are essential to building vibrant communities and strong local economies,” said Angela Weekley, Veridian’s manager of community inclusion. “We’re grateful to the organizations that are making these efforts a priority, and we’re honored to support their work.”
The purpose of Veridian’s Financial Literacy Grant is to help improve financial literacy among adults and children. Recently awarded Financial Literacy Grant recipients include:
| Organization | City | Amount |
| Children & Families of Iowa | Des Moines | $5,000 |
| Family Management Financial Solutions | Waterloo | $5,000 |
| Habitat for Humanity of Council Bluffs | Council Bluffs | $5,000 |
| Iowa Able Foundation | Ames | $3,000 |
| Iowa Legal Aid | Des Moines | $3,000 |
| Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa | Cedar Rapids | $5,000 |
| Mid-Iowa Community Action | Marshalltown | $5,000 |
| Operation Threshold, Inc. | Waterloo | $5,000 |
| The Job Foundation | Cedar Falls | $4,000 |
The purpose of the Inclusive Community Grant is to help create communities that are welcoming and inclusive to all individuals. Recently awarded Inclusive Community Grant recipients include:
| Organization | City | Amount |
| Best Buddies Iowa | Des Moines | $5,000 |
| Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cedar Rapids & East Central Iowa | Cedar Rapids | $5,000 |
| Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Iowa | Waterloo | $5,000 |
| Boys and Girls Club of the Cedar Valley | Waterloo | $4,000 |
| Family YMCA of Black Hawk County | Waterloo | $5,000 |
| Heart of Iowa Big Brothers Big Sisters | Marshalltown | $4,000 |
| Inclusive Communities | Omaha | $5,000 |
| Inclusion Connection | Waverly | $5,000 |
| North Star Community Services | Waterloo | $2,000 |
Veridian partners with the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa (CFNEIA) to distribute the Veridian Credit Union Fund. This fund provides financial support to all Veridian grant recipients. For more information, including details on how to apply for 2017 funding, visit veridiancu.org or call Tom Wickersham at CFNEIA at (319) 287-9106.
Veridian Credit Union, founded in 1934 in Waterloo, Iowa, is a not-for-profit financial cooperative owned by 327,000 members. The credit union offers a full range of business and consumer financial services with nearly 1,000 employees and 31 branches across Iowa, eastern Nebraska and the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area. For more information, visit veridiancu.org or call (800) 235-3228.
Andrea Hudnut
(515) 289-5561 | AndreaLH@Veridiancu.org
