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 September.
Giving Back
Iowa credit union becomes unlikely warrior fighting overseas scams
In the intractable fight against America's online scam epidemic, there is one unlikely place where efforts to fight back appear to be making an impact. From her office in Dubuque, Iowa, Jill Gogel has been doing everything she can to combat the scammers plaguing her customers. Fraud has become, in her words, "an everyday occurrence," and last year, the FTC reported that victims nationwide lost $10 billion to scams. As vice president of fraud services at the Dupaco Community Credit Union, handling nearly 170,000 accounts in Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin, Gogel has seen how fraud affects her customers firsthand. (Dupaco Community Credit Union, 9/25)
Stock the Shelves returns for 15th year. Here's how you can help support local food pantries
Across America, the average cost for a meal was $3.99 in 2022 — the most recent year for which data was available — according to Feeding America's Map the Meal Gap study. Even when adjusted for national average inflation, according to the study, this nearly 3% increase puts meals at their highest price point in the last two decades. That's why our newsrooms across Wisconsin will again partner with Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin and the Greater Fox Cities Chapter of Credit Unions to raise money to feed those in need. (Greater Fox Cities Chapter of Credit Unions, 9/26)
Grant from Connexus Credit Union Allows The Babies' Place to assemble potty training kits
VIDEO (Connexus Credit Union, 9/27)
Creating Community
RCU to be title sponsor for Eau Claire Marathon
The Biggest Small Town Race in the US” is getting a little bigger this year. Royal Credit Union has announced they will be the new title sponsor of the Eau Claire Marathon Race Weekend for the next three years. As part of the sponsorship, the Charity Classic 10K race that RCU hosts at the Rock the Riverfront event will now take place during the marathon weekend. RCU said despite the new name, the Eau Claire Marathon Charity Classic is still focused on supporting the community. (Royal Credit Union, 9/5)
Fort Fall Fiesta features food and fun in Jones Park
The smell of food, mixed with the sounds of music and fun, filled Fort Atkinson’s Jones Park Saturday on the city’s west side. The park serves annually as the site of the Fort Fall Fiesta, hosted by the Unity Project of Fort Atkinson, for the purpose of bringing members of the English-speaking and Spanish-speaking communities together. The event delivered an afternoon of food, music, dancing, games and children’s activities. (Fort Community Credit Union, 9/16)
Supporting Financial Literacy
Covantage Credit Union holds online fraud protection course
VIDEO (Covantage Credit Union, 9/9)
Investing In Communities
10 Credit Unions Team Up to Launch National PR Initiative
Ten credit unions formed a new coalition that is on a mission to educate Americans about the unique advantages enjoyed by credit union members, according to a joint announcement Thursday from the new group, called Collaborative Public Relations Action (COPRA). (Marine Credit Union, 9/19)