CUs in the News: November 2022

Whether it's giving back, awarding scholarships, creating community, providing innovative solutions, or fostering financial literacy (and so much more), here's how Wisconsin's credit unions supported their members and communities in November.

Giving Back

Jefferson County event brings together children, adoptive parents from foster care system
The Puerner room of the Fort Community Credit Union in Jefferson was filled with face paintings, halloween treats and loving families on Thursday, Oct. 27. The Jefferson County Courts partnered with “Jockey Being Family” to celebrate families coming together as one. Every child adopted within the last three years in Jefferson County was invited to attend Jefferson County Adoption Day with their families. (Fort Community Credit Union, 11/3)

Startup Chippewa Valley Week announces 2021 program
Startup Chippewa Valley Week is sponsored by Royal Credit Union. It will feature over 15, free, in-person events focused on connecting, educating, and celebrating entrepreneurs of all types throughout the region. More than a dozen community partner organizations are leading the workshops, panels, networking events, and discussions that will provide training, skills, and development opportunities for participants. Startup Chippewa Valley Week is part of the larger, Startup Week Wisconsin. (Royal Credit Union, 11/4) 

WESTconsin asks for donations for its annual Mitten Tree
This holiday season, the public is asked to help WESTconsin Credit Union give the gift of warmth with donations to its 12th annual Mitten Tree campaign. Each WESTconsin office will display a tree in its lobby decorated with donations of mittens, gloves, hats, scarves and other items to give to those in need as the winter season’s sub-zero temperatures set in. In 2021, more than 2,700 items were collected, along with $4,343 raised in monetary support. (WESTconsin Credit Union, 11/9) 

SCCU fills Judy Garland Museum’s funding gap
Superior Choice Credit Union (SCCU) makes an unprecedented majority donation to the Judy Garland Museum. The museum had hopes to expand its offerings on land adjacent to theirs, but after a private party made an offer, the museum issued an urgent request for funding. The museum had reached 65% of the $125,000 needed and SCCU answered the call for help by funding the remainder. (Superior Choice Credit Union, 11/9) 

TruStone Financial Employees Give Back to Local Communities for CU Forward Day
 On Monday, Oct. 10, TruStone Financial Credit Union employees joined thousands of other credit union employees in giving back to their communities for CU Forward Day. CU Forward Day is a Minnesota Credit Union Network (MNCUN) and Wisconsin initiative to fulfill credit unions’ “people helping people” philosophy. (TruStone Financial Credit Union, 11/10)

ArtReach St. Croix receives $25,000 donation
ArtReach St. Croix has received a $25,000 donation from the Royal Credit Union foundation in order to renovate and remodel the gallery. The ArtReach St. Croix Gallery is located at 224 4th Street N, in a historic home built in the 1850s. Originally, the building was located across Mulberry Street from its current location before it was later relocated.  Renovations will mostly focus on energy efficiency and will include having rim joists insulated and 33 new windows in the building. (Royal Credit Union, 11/11) 

MMCCU SUPPORTS VETERANS WINTER CLOTHING AND TOY DRIVES
Through January 1, The Highground’s winter clothing drive for disadvantaged veterans and their families is collecting coats, hats, gloves, hand/foot warmers, scarves, boots, snowsuits, and new socks. Donations are distributed every third Saturday to veterans homes in the area. For more information on the winter clothing drive, contact 715-743-4224. (Marshfield Medical Center Credit Union, 11/11)

Heritage Credit Union Legacy Fund Veterans Memorial donation
The Heritage Credit Union Legacy Fund is proud to announce their recent donation of $15,000 to DeForest Veterans Memorial Foundation. The Heritage Credit Union Legacy Fund was established as part of the merger between Heritage Credit Union and Connexus Credit Union effective March 1, 2022. To provide a greater impact to the community, Connexus Credit Union’s philanthropic program, Connexus Cares, matched the Heritage Credit Union Legacy Fund donation for a total of $30,000. (Heritgage Credit Union, Connexus Credit Union, 11/14) 

Summit Credit Union pays $2.5 million in member dividends
 Summit Credit Union has announced a patronage dividend of $2.5 million for its members. Called Cash Boomerang¹, the member give-back is based on Summit Credit Union’s financial success and on an individual’s use of Summit checking, savings, and borrowing services between Oct. 1, 2021, and Sept. 30, 2022. The annual program will send cash payouts to more than 72,800 members, an increase of 3,800 from last year. In the nine years since Cash Boomerang started, Summit has distributed $19.6 million in cash payouts. (Summit Credit Union, 11/14)

Single mom of two discovers supporting community making home ownership possible
This is story about how Habitat for Humanity of Sawyer County provided an opportunity for one single mother in desperate need of housing, but any Habitat story is never entirely about housing either – it’s also about a community coming together with a vision to make a difference for one person, one family. (Hayward Community Credit Union, 11/16) 

CoVantage Cares fundraiser to raise dollars for Emerson Park
CoVantage Cares Foundation has announced the kickoff of its annual two-week fundraising campaign. The event will begin Tuesday, Nov. 29, which has become known nationally as “Giving Tuesday,” and will end on December 13. Funds generated will be matched with up to $175,000 in contributions from CoVantage Cares Foundation, a public charity established by CoVantage Credit Union. Local non-profit organizations to receive funding from this year’s campaign were selected by CoVantage staff and are located throughout the communities served by CoVantage Credit Union. (CoVantage Credit Union, 11/28)

The Mitten Tree - Give the Gift of Warmth
This holiday season, help WESTconsin Credit Union give the gift of warmth with donations to its 12th annual Mitten Tree campaign. Each WESTconsin office will display a tree in its lobby decorated with donations of mittens, gloves, hats, scarves, and other items to give to those in need as the winter season’s sub-zero temperatures set in. In 2021, more than 2,700 items were collected, along with $4,343 raised in monetary support. (WESTconsin Credit Union, 11/25)

RCU Foundation Announces $25,000 Gift to Fairy Wonderland Park in Prescott
The Royal Credit Union Foundation (RCU Foundation) made a $25,000 gift dedicated to the construction of Fairy Wonderland Park in Prescott, WI. This unique park will be an inclusive park that will promote physical activity and play to promote socialization, family time, and creativity. Fairy Wonderland Park will be a life-sized fairy garden for kids of all ages and abilities. All the pieces of equipment will promote balance, coordination, sensory input and promote exercise. (Royal Credit Union, 11/15)

TruStone Financial Shreds Nearly 44 Tons of Documents for Neighbors in Minnesota and Wisconsin
TruStone Financial Credit Union securely shredded about 44 tons or 87,000 pounds of confidential documents for the community at nine shred events in Minnesota and Wisconsin in 2022. During TruStone’s spring events, more than 42 tons of documents were shredded, with the fall events yielding about 2 tons of shredded material. In total, TruStone’s shredding events saved about 748 trees and 141 cubic yards of landfill space. (TruStone Financial Credit Union, 11/30) 

Creating Community

Scary Park lives up to billing
According to the spirits in charge, they handed out 350 treat bags, haunted more than 340 vehicles and 800 kiddos and raised more than $4,000 which will be split between the two clubs to fund children’s activities. (WESTconsin Credit Union, Royal Credit Union, 11/2)

October Community Events a Success Thanks to Volunteers and Sponsors
The City of Janesville Parks and Recreation Divisions have had a spooky season full of fun with their annual family-friendly community events. While City staff were busy behind the scenes to create Halloween fun for everyone, these programs are only possible because of the support of numerous sponsors and volunteers who make them a success. The Parks & Recreation Divisions wish to extend gratitude to the individuals, organizations, and businesses who helped bring the festive spirit to Janesville. (Blackhawk Community Credit Union, 11/3)

Community Calendar: Share the Warmth clothing drive, holiday bazaars and more
(Superior Choice Credit Union, 11/10)

Appleton kicks off its 2022 holiday season Saturday
Light Up Appleton 2022 kicks off the holiday season this coming Saturday, Nov. 19.
Head to Houdini Plaza in downtown Appleton between 3-7 p.m. to kick off the holiday season with live music and performances, a treat walk, window scavenger hunt, family friendly activities, food trucks and so much more all for free. (Fox Communities Credit Union, 11/17) 

Neenah holiday tradition to return on December 2
 The holiday season is in full swing throughout northeast Wisconsin, especially in Neenah, where a popular local event is scheduled for December. The community is invited downtown to do a little ‘window shopping’ as businesses will create elaborate window scenes with live mannequins as part of the very special tradition. (Community first Credit Union, 11/23)

Altra Federal Credit Union hosts free Santa event Dec. 10
HO, HO, HO! Santa is coming to Altra Federal Credit Union from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Dec. 10. Altra will host this free event for the public at their Operations Center at 1700 Oak Forest Drive, Onalaska, WI 54650. We invite families to visit with Santa, pick up our featured holiday book and participate in various activities such as coloring, cookie decorating, writing letters to Santa and more! (Altra Credit Union, 11/30) 

Fostering Excellence

Connexus Credit Union named one of the Best Credit Unions of 2022 by personal finance website Kiplinger
Following a highly competitive and rigorous evaluation of financial institutions across the country, Connexus Credit Union was named one of the Best Credit Unions of 2022 by personal finance website Kiplinger. (Connexus Credit Union, 11/4)

The Most Powerful Women in Credit Unions, 2022
The credit union industry is, at its heart, one of the most diverse in financial services. Each institution caters to its own demographic, ranging from specific underserved communities as small as a single county to the full global scale of the U.S. armed forces. In its inaugural Most Powerful Women in Credit Unions listing, American Banker is proud to share the stories of 25 of the women leading the credit union industry through times of rapid and unprecedented change. (Verve, a Credit Union, 11/7) 

John Sackett Awarded CUES Distinguished Director Award
Royal Credit Union (Royal) Board Member and RCU Foundation President, John Sackett, was honored with the 2022 Distinguished Director Award at the CUES Member Appreciation and Awards Event. The CUES Distinguished Director Award honors strong volunteers whose achievements have strengthened their credit union. (Royal Credit Union, 11/8)

Wisconsin Firms Top Human Rights Campaign’s Best LGBTQ Workplaces Survey
Baird and other groups that have achieved a perfect score know that the Human Rights Campaign Foundation continues to evolve its metrics each year to match changing social conditions and challenges. That means the companies, too, will have to enhance their efforts if they want to keep their perfect scores. Many say that these days it’s more than just the right thing to do. (UW Credit Union, 11/9)

CEO of Educators Credit Union receives prestigious national award
Linda Hoover, CEO and president of Educators Credit Union, was named 2022’s outstanding chief executive by the Credit Union Executives Society. Awarded since 2012, Hoover is the first woman to win the award. (Educators Credit Union, 11/12) 

Entrepreneurship week in Chippewa Valley
he largest entrepreneurship event in the region is looking to inspire and support those who want to start businesses. For the fifth year, CoLab is hosting start-up Chippewa Valley. The weeklong event includes workshops, classes, and pitch competitions aimed to educate and connect aspiring entrepreneurs. Several community businesses like Royal Credit Union, CVTC, and Ruder Ware are offering financial, educational, and legal services to startups. (Royal Credit Union, 11/16)

Compliance a constantly moving target
Sue Vandermeuse didn’t envision spending 30 years in compliance. But the senior vice president of audit and assurance at $587 million asset Kohler Credit Union in Sheboygan, Wis., has found a challenging, rewarding path since stepping into the career in the early 1990s. (Kohler Credit Union, 11/21) 

National Credit Union Foundation marks 40-year milestone with latest DE cohort
The National Credit Union Foundation (the Foundation) celebrated an additional 48 graduates of its signature Development Education (DE) program last week. The fourth and final cohort of 2022 marked the end of the DE program’s 40th year. This graduating class joins more than 2,000 credit union advocates from 35 countries who have previously received their CUDETM (Credit Union Development Educator) designation. (NCUF, 11/22)