Positivity within CUs

Humanitarian Highlight 5.20.21

For this week’s Humanitarian Highlight, we want to take a look at the positivity within CUs and their communities. Is your credit union a stand-out when it comes to charity and community? Then hit us up on social media and let’s help get the word out on your good works!! From scholarships to hospitals and the most vulnerable let’s look at the positivity CUs spread within their communities.

Michigan First Credit Union

Cascade Township, a branch of the Kent District Library received a donation of over 1,000 books. Michigan First Credit Union had their organization, First for Good, set up boxes at their 28 branches to collect new and gently used books. They collected over 1,000 books for the library in 3 weeks. Michigan First CU and its generous members were able to aid the library in adding to their collection.

Achieva Credit Union

Achieva Credit Union has been named one of the “Top Workplaces” in Tampa Bay for the ninth year in a row. In honor of this huge achievement, Achieva CU is donating $30,000 to charities in their local communities. What’s unique about what Achieva is doing is that each branch team and each department get $750 to donate to any community charity of their choice. This is awesome because they are making a huge impact on their entire community by dispersing the donations. Congratulations Achieva CU!

Corning Credit Union

Corning Credit Union is matching donations to local small businesses in their hometown, Elmira, New York. The local businesses in the Elmira area have been extremely impacted by the pandemic. The initiative of this program, “buy now, shop later” encourages community support. When someone purchases a gift card of any amount from one of the local businesses, Corning CU will donate up to $50 to that business. Corning CU will continue to donate to these businesses until they have reached their goal of donating $25,000 between all of the local shops.

Sandia Area Federal Credit Union

Sandia Area Federal Credit Union partnered with local community resources and was able to donate $40,000 to a local food pantry aimed to fight hunger. Together, they tackled FACE the Hunger Challenge. Feeding Area Children Everyday’s goal is to raise awareness of the hungry children in New Mexico. About 1 in 3 children in New Mexico are going hungry. Sandia Area FCU’s donation of $40,000 is able to provide over 200,000 meals for those in need.

Unitus Community Credit Union

Unitus Community Credit Union pledged $50,000 to Legacy Emanual Randall Children’s Hospital. The donation is to provide a BloodTrack and Belmont Rapid Infuser to the hospital’s birth center. The new equipment is meant to supply emergency blood transfusions at the bedside. The equipment is critical in the birthing center and can save more than 25 mothers and their newborns each year. Unitus Community CU strives to improve the quality of life in their community.

Georgia United Credit Union

Georgia United Credit Union’s foundation, Georgia United Foundation has awarded scholarships to 6 high school seniors of the graduating 2021 class. This has been the 27^th year that Georgia United CU has awarded scholarships. Their notable scholarship program motivates students to submit a one-minute video explaining how their continued education will help the community. The total amount of the scholarships was $30,000, enough to make a huge difference in each of these student’s lives. Good luck next year!

Oak Tree Business Systems, Inc.

Thank you for reading this Humanitarian Highlight! It was great to see positivity within CUs and their communities. Please check out last week’s, and please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions about our products & services through our email or by phone (800) 537-9598.

Community Dedication

Humanitarian Highlight 5.13.21

For this week’s Humanitarian Highlight, we want to take a look at CUs dedication to their local communities. Is your credit union a stand-out when it comes to charity and community? Then hit us up on social media and let’s help get the word out on your good works!! From teachers to children and the most vulnerable let’s look at the community dedication CUs have for their communities.

Gulf Winds Federal Credit Union

Since 2012, Gulf Winds FCU has made an annual donation to the Children’s Miracle Network at Ascension Sacred Heart. This year Gulf Winds donated $10,626. The donation was achieved through the Gulf Winds staff donating weekly for a casual jeans day. Over the 9 years Gulf Winds FCU has been donating to the Children’s Miracle Network at Ascension Sacred Heart, they have donated over $85,000. Their staff members’ dedication and generosity to help children and families is inspiring!

Sound Credit Union

Sound CU held their annual internal auction for Sound team members to raise money to help fight food insecurity in Western Washington. The auction had 120 items, raising over $8,000 and an additional $10,000 donation from Sound CU, making the total over $18,000. All of the donations will be going to Food Lifeline, a non-profit to end hunger in Western Washington. The amount raised will be able to provide over 91,000 meals to thousands of people in that region. Since the pandemic, Sound CU has been donating to local foodbanks and COVID relief centers, contributing over $200,000. Their dedication to helping their community during these times is very admirable!

FirstLight Federal Credit Union

FirstLight Federal Credit Union donated $80,000 to Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso in honor of National Financial Literacy Month. The generous donation will go towards scholarships and support programs at Texas Techs’ four El Paso schools. Over half of the donation will go towards annual scholarships.

Brazos Valley Schools Credit Union

Brazos Valley Schools Credit Union partnered up with local businesses to sponsor the Katy ISD “Teacher of the Year” annual event. For this virtual event, respected members of the community will honor the teachers chosen from the 73 Katy ISD campuses. The recognized teachers will receive a goodie bag of various items donated by local businesses as well as a $100 gift card. Recognizing teachers is a huge part of Brazos Valley Schools CU community. Showing their appreciation and support for the teachers’ dedication makes for a stronger community.

Directions Credit Union

Recently, because of the pandemic, schools have been trying to see how they can incorporate outdoor learning into their lessons. With outdoor learning, masks can be taken off and improve focus for younger children in the setting. Springmill STEM Elementary School has been granted $10,000 from Directions Credit Union to build an outdoor classroom. A 3rd grade class at Springmill designed and came up with plans as to how the classroom could be built. Directions CU has also granted 2 other schools $10,000 for the same purpose. They have realized how beneficial outdoor education can be to children, especially during these times.

Land of Lincoln Credit Union

Land of Lincoln Credit Union has launched a new financial education program called “First Step Initiative.” LLCU has partnered up with 3 Springfield area high schools to help spread basic financial education at the high school level. The program is designed to prepare students at a basic level for managing their money, especially going into college. LLCU will donate to the schools annually, as well as host seminars at the schools to promote the program. The “First Step Initiative” is a great example of CUs dedicating their resources and knowledge to help educate future generations on the topic of money.

Oak Tree Business Systems, Inc.

Thank you for reading this Humanitarian Highlight! It was great to see CU’s dedication to their communities. Please check out last week’s, and please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions about our products & services through our email or by phone (800) 537-9598.

Turning Compassion Into Action

Humanitarian Highlight 2.18.21

We are so happy to have you here for this week’s Humanitarian Highlight! If you are new around here, we gather the good deeds #CreditUnions are doing all over, and showcase them in one place! 🤗🎈 Let’s look at how Credit Unions are turning compassion into action.

So let’s get started with this Thursday’s #HumanitarianHighlight, just press play!

If you know a credit union that has gone above and beyond in making a #CUdifference, use our hashtag #HumanitarianHighlight to let us know about it, so we can give them a shout-out! 🗣️

Patelco Credit Union

Patelco has always prioritized supporting those who face food insecurity, especially during the current global crisis. Food banks have had triple (or even more) requests for food. Particularly critical, is the need to feed children who normally get their meals at school. For every $1 donated, a food bank can secure up to $7 worth of food. Patelco has generously donated $130,000 to partner food banks in their local community.

SeaComm Federal Credit Union

SeaComm FCU recently committed to an amazing $150,000 worth of donations between 6 regional hospital foundations across northern NY and VT. The donated funds will help to purchase essential medical supplies and needed aid to frontline healthcare workers.

TruWest Credit Union

TruWest gifted $10,478 to Dell Children’s Medical Center in Austin, TX. They were able to reach this generous amount through a fundraising 50/50 raffle, which included over 195 participants who made donations, as well as TruWest’s annual “Casual for a Cause” staff donation initiatives which are held throughout the year.

Polish & Slavic Federal Credit Union

For the seventh straight year, PSFCU, the nation’s largest ethnic credit union, donated more than $100,000 to organizations and foundations committed to assisting sick, terminally ill, and disadvantaged children. Since debuting its holiday donation drive in 2014, PSFCU has collected more than $834,000, all of which have benefited a total of 16 children’s hospices.

Connex Credit Union

Connex Credit Union partnered with Christian Community Action to collect money and basic household items for homeless families moving into recently renovated apartments at the Hillside Family Shelter in New Haven. Connex CU staff and members were able to contribute $1,500 and more than 240 household items and toys for these families in need.

Oklahoma Central Credit Union

With Oklahoma Central’s Refer-A-Friend program, they were able to donate $575 to Domestic Violence Intervention Services (DVIS). DVIS provides comprehensive intervention and prevention services to men, women, and children affected by domestic and sexual violence.

“The DVIS mission is to rebuild lives affected by domestic violence and sexual assault through advocacy, shelter, counseling, and education.” Domestic Violence Intervention Services, Inc.

American 1 Credit Union

American 1 CU surprised two of their members by paying off the remaining balance on their auto loans. This generosity came as part of their Great Loan Payoff promotion. Members earn drawing entries, and American 1 CU pays their loans up to $15,000. Though the promotion stated there would only be one winner, the credit union paid the remaining balance for two of its members, wanting to increase their efforts of giving back to their long-standing members.

Thank you for reading this Humanitarian Highlight! Please check out last week’s, and please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions about our products & services through our email or by phone (800) 537-9598.

International Credit Union Day 2020

International Credit Union Day 2020

On October 15, 2020, credit unions all over the U.S. celebrated the 72nd International Credit Union Day 2020! The theme this year was “Inspiring Hope for a Global Community.”

The first ICU Day was celebrated in 1927 by the Credit Union League of Massachusetts. After a few years of not celebrating the holiday due to rapid growth and change in the credit union industry, ICU was established on the third Thursday of October.

ICU Day is a day of recognizing the CU global community, celebrating the progress we’ve made with the #CUmovement, and giving back to the people we serve.

Although 2020 has brought many challenges, credit unions have shown true resilience. We have been in awe of the work CUs have done for their communities in the last few months, and how the #poeplehelpingpeople movement has only gained speed in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.

There is no better way to celebrate ICU Day than by featuring some of our #CUfamily and the ways they are celebrating!

A+ Federal Credit Union showed their spirit for ICU Day by driving in a parade for the Austin Habitat for Humanity.

Georgia United Credit Union donated $5,000 to four area food banks for their #fighthunger challenge.

Maui County Federal Credit Union packed 554 bags of emergency food for the Maui Food Bank.

Delta County Credit Union paid for lunches at local restaurants for #CULunchLocal.

Linn Area Credit Union is raising money for United Way of East Central Iowa.

Northeast Credit Union gave our $5 to lucky members.

Synergy Credit Union made a $100,000 donation that will be distributed among more than 30 schools in West-Central Saskatchewan.

United Savings Credit Union is matching donations up to $1,000 until October 30th for Great Plains Food Bank and the Becker County Food Bank.

Don’t forget to check out our 2020 ICU Day YouTube video.

We are elated that there is a holiday to celebrate the credit union movement, but we all know the great work CUs do doesn’t stop there. We like to honor the #CUfamily every week in our #HumanitarianHighlight blog posts!

Oak Tree is proud to be a part of the #CUmovement. As a credit union partner, you can count on us. Contact us today for your compliant and member-friendly forms.

Community Charity Campaign

Helpful Humanitarians | Credit Union partner

Helpful Humanitarians

PRESS RELEASE Oak Tree Business Systems, Inc. is teaming up with local charities, including the OC Foodbank and the 2020 Community Cup Charity, to give back to the surrounding communities. We are asking credit unions, employees, members, families, and friends to help us in this fight against hunger. To join our team, please email us; the deadline to sign up is Aug. 28. The project will run from Aug. 1–Sep. 11, and those who wish to participate will be asked to leave out marked bins at their branches to collect donations. (Note: this community charity campaign is now over)

This is a great opportunity for your credit union and credit union family to get involved and help those in your community even further, virtually and physically during COVID-19.

“The OC Food Bank works with nearly 400 local charities, soup kitchens, and community organizations to end hunger and malnutrition. CAPOC personnel distributes over 23,000 food boxes each month at 55 distribution sites in Orange, Los Angeles, and Riverside Counties. The program provides nutritional assistance to relieve situations of emergency and distress through the provision of food to the poor.”

About Oak Tree Business Systems, Inc.

Now celebrating over 37 years of experience in the Credit Union Industry, Oak Tree is a leading provider of compliant lending documents and forms for credit unions. We provide all types of forms (in all formats), data linking services, training, compliance support, legal opinion letters, marketing services, Spanish forms, preprinted brochures, and documents, as well as web-based forms.

(note: this is an older blog entry and has been edited since originally posted. The community charity campaign is now complete to great success!)