CUs in the News: February 2023

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 February.

Giving Back

FCCU distributes $300,000 to members through Member Loyalty Cash Program
Fort Community Credit Union distributed a $300,000 patronage dividend to over 8,600 qualifying member-owners, ranging from $30 to $61 deposits each in late December. In December 2022, FCCU’s Board of Directors announced its eighth annual Member Loyalty Cash patronage dividend. Since 2015, FCCU has returned $2.2 million to its members through this program. (Fort Community Credit Union, 2/2)

Park City Credit Union Blood Drive
Park City Credit Union is holding a Blood Drive in Merrill on Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023, from 9:00 a.m. through 12:30 p.m. To donate, reserve your appointment by calling Park City Credit Union at 715.536.8351 or go to: communityblood.org/donor. Log in, click “Donate Now,” and enter sponsor code ME25. Advance registration is requested.
The Blood Drive will be held at the Merrill Park City Credit Union location at 501 S. Pine Ridge Ave. (Park City Credit Union, 2/10) 

WESTconsin Credit Union to host fundraiser for area children's hospitals
During the month of February, WESTconsin Credit Union will host the Chain of Hearts fundraiser supporting area Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) Hospitals—Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare and CMN Hospitals at Gundersen Health System. Members are invited to show their support of CMN Hospitals from February 1 – 28 by purchasing a small paper heart for a donation of $1 or more, or a Wall of Fame paper heart for $25 at their local WESTconsin office. All hearts will be proudly displayed in WESTconsin lobbies. Historically, this campaign has raised nearly $10,000 for CMN Hospitals. (WESTconsin Credit Union, 2/8)

Appleton schools receiving period products to combat period poverty
More than 5,000 period products will be distributed across 15 Appleton Area School District schools to combat period poverty, officials announced Wednesday. The products are courtesy of The Monthlies Project, which is a new initiative aiming to provide menstrual health products at schools and bring awareness to the period poverty issue. (Fox Communities Credit Union, 2/15) 

Lions Club, Heartland Credit Union host drive-thru food drive
The Oregon and Brooklyn Lions Club partners with Heartland Credit Union to host a drive-thru food drive from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 25. All donations will go to local families. Most wanted items include paper products, cleaning supplies, peanut butter, tuna fish, pasta, pasta sauce, cereal, canned fruit, macaroni and cheese and feminine hygiene products. (Heartland Credit Union, 2/18) 

Creating Community

Wave Looks to Wash out Utica Sunday Afternoon in Milwaukee
Fresh off a win last Sunday against the rival Comets, the 7-time champion Milwaukee Wave look to keep that winning momentum going against Utica City FC, this Sunday afternoon, 1:05pm at UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena. (Educators Credit Union, 2/2) 

RCU Foundation Rock the Riverfront Youth Coloring Contest starts Feb. 20
The RCU Foundation Rock the Riverfront Youth Coloring Contest starts on Feb. 20, 2023. According to a media release from Royal Credit Union, this contest is for youth 12 years old and under and intends to encourage creativity while building awareness for the annual run/walk and the workforce development organizations that it supports in 2023. (Royal Credit Union, 2/17)

2-20-23 fdl st. patrick’s day parade registration
The Fond du Lac St. Patrick’s Day Parade will take place Saturday, March 11th at 3pm on Main Street from Rees to Western Avenue.  The annual parade is sponsored by Holiday Automotive and all are encouraged to participate and or attend this green tradition. (Fond du Lac Credit Union, 2/19)

Fort Regional Science Fair boasts 59 entries; winners announced
Winners in the 2023 Fort Atkinson Regional Science Fair have been announced. The 33rd annual event, which took place Sunday, Feb. 26, at the Fort Atkinson Club, featured 59 entries by students in grades K-12. The science fair was open to all students who live in or attend school in the school districts of Johnson Creek, Lake Mills, Jefferson, Fort Atkinson, Cambridge, Milton, Palmyra-Eagle, and Whitewater. (Fort Community Credit Union, 2/27) 

Supporting Financial Literacy

Educators Credit Union launches free tool to help parents teach financial literacy to kids
Educators Credit Union announces the launch of Mind & Money, a digital tool that provides parents and guardians an easy way to pay allowance, assign chores, and teach financial lessons with no monthly fees. Mind & Money also offers children and teens their own debit card that comes with parental controls and a spending tracker. (Educators Credit Union, 2/26) 

Awarding Scholarships

WYCUP Awards Eight 2023 Scholarships
Eight young credit union professionals from four different continents each received a World Young Credit Union Professionals’ (WYCUP) Scholarship Thursday that includes an all-expense paid trip to credit union events in either Brazil or Canada. (Royal Credit Union, 2/13) 

Fostering Excellence

Taking DEI to the next level
To be successful, a diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) journey requires consistent care, feedback, and benchmarking. The DEI Roundtable preceding the CUNA GAC Sunday offered participants insight on how to build and maintain the success of their DEI efforts. “You have to change your own mindset before you start changing the mindset of others,” says Sheila Milton, vice president of diversity, equity, and inclusion at $5 billion asset UW Credit Union, Madison, Wis. (UW Credit Union, 2/27)