The Summit County Chapter of the Ohio Credit Union League is helping low- and moderate-income residents prepare their taxes by partnering with the Earned Income Tax Credit Program of Akron to host the Internal Revenue Service’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program. The chapter received an outreach grant from the Ohio Credit Union Foundation to expand marketing efforts to educate individuals about the free service and Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC. The chapter had been providing free tax services to Summit County residents since 2003, and $10 million in EITC benefits are unclaimed in Summit County. Hosting a VITA site is a perfect example of credit union outreach because it aligns with the movement’s fundamental principles and core business of helping people by providing affordable and accessible financial services.


KEMBA Financial Credit Union in Columbus received an outreach grant from the Ohio Credit Union Foundation to support a local nonprofit that offers food, clothing, toiletries, transportation, and job training to low-income residents in Central Ohio. The grant funds will provide 740 COTA bus passes that the organization’s clients will use for medical appointments, employment opportunities, and other social service agency visits. “The number of requests for bus passes has increased because of the current economic climate, and the funds awarded by the Foundation will provide us with a means to manage this important need,” stated Donald Ferrell, Executive Director, The Community Kitchen. KEMBA Financial CU is proud to support an organization that helps individuals preserve their dignity as they recover from financial hardships.


Marion Community Credit Union in Marion received an outreach grant from the Ohio Credit Union Foundation to make capital improvements to the first “Credit Union Community Center” in Ohio. The credit union’s commitment to developing strong outreach initiatives that promote community involvement has brought together non-profit organizations and local businesses in an unprecedented manner. The Credit Union Community Center, formally the credit union’s main office, is located in an area of Marion that experiences high poverty, high unemployment, low academic proficiency, and a lack of access or transportation to programs offered by social service agencies in the area. The center will host financial education programs for children and families, in addition to a wide range of other community services, such as after-school and summer programming for youth and family-strengthening classes for adults. The project has impressive community support, including lead partner Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS), and has the potential to touch countless lives, and put students and their families on a path to a sound financial future. “The Credit Union Community Center is a testament to why credit unions are different from other financial institutions,” said Ohio Credit Union Foundation Executive Director Becky Hart. “The project demonstrates and embodies the credit union philosophy of People Helping People.” The Foundation awarded a $35,000 outreach grant to assist with the project. The Credit Union Community Center is set to open June 2009.


 

For three hours, mortgage professionals and housing counselors answered calls from consumers who are concerned about foreclosure during a call-in show sponsored by several Miami Valley area credit unions.

Credit Union National Association’s Management School
Laura Roberts, Chivaho Federal Credit Union
Dave Cottone, Ohio HealthCare Federal Credit Union
Sandra Creach, Middletown City Employees Federal Credit Union 
Lori Wentzel,  Kraton Belpre Federal Credit Union

Credit Union National Association’s Certified Financial Counselor School
Annette Quinn, Community Star Credit Union
Janice Rohrer, Hamilton County Employee Credit Union

Credit Union National Association’s Management Essentials for Supervisors
Ann Gallas, St. Luke Parish Federal Credit Union

National Credit Union Foundation’s Development Education Training
Jason Parkins, Millstream Area Credit Union
Sandy McCormick, Total Assurance Federal Credit Union
Shari Duff, Classic Federal Credit Union


2008 Memorial Scholarship Winners
The 2008 recipient of the Jacquie Fisher Memorial Scholarship was Lori Wentzel of KRATON Belpre Federal Credit Union. The scholarship is awarded for registration costs associated with the Credit Union National Association’s (CUNA) Management School. CUNA Management School is designed for credit union management personnel who hope to obtain a senior-level management position in the credit union system. The program consists of university classes and real-world learning activities that will help attendees become successful managers.

The 2008 recipient of the Louise McCarren Herring Development Education Scholarship was Sandy McCormick of Total Assurance Federal Credit Union. The scholarship is awarded to assist with the registration costs associated with the National Credit Union Foundation’s Development Education Training.  Participants leave the training with a clearer understanding of the unique ability credit unions have to improve the lives of people on a local, national, and global level. NCUF’s Development Education (DE) Training is an innovative learning experience that focuses on the relevance of “People Helping People.”

The 2008 recipient of the Richard Blake Memorial Scholarship was Christine Leslie of State Transportation Employees Credit Union. The scholarship is awarded for registration costs associated with the Credit Union National Association’s 2009 Governmental Affairs Conference (GAC) held in Washington, D.C. The GAC provides credit unions an up-close look at legislative, regulatory, and political topics that impact the Credit Union Movement.


2008 OCUF Student Scholarship
The Ohio Credit Union Foundation (OCUF) is pleased to announce the 2008 winners of the annual statewide scholarship competition, who will share $12,500 in scholarship funds for their post-secondary education. The five winners were: Alyssa M. Hautman from the Cincinnati Chapter; Corrylee Drozda, Northeast Chapter; Kaela Bilski, Northwest Chapter; Kaedra Henrink, Summit Chapter; and Elizabeth Anne Miller, Western Buckeye Chapter. The students were among more than 1,500 who participated in an annual statewide scholarship contest sponsored by the Chapters of the Ohio Credit Union League and funded by OCUF. Students had to write an essay on the following: “What impact will the financial decisions you make today have on the rest of your life? Provide specific examples. How can a credit union help you with these decisions?” Each chapter submits its top essay winner to the League. A panel of independent judges then selects the five statewide winners. Each student will receive a $2,500 check from OCUF. In 2007, the chapters and OCUF collectively awarded $68,500 in scholarships to students pursuing post-secondary education.

 

Shari Duff (front row, second from left), CEO of Classic Federal Credit Union, poses for a photo with her Development Education project group after graduating from the August 2008 training held at Island Wood, WA.

The Ohio Credit Union Foundation (OCUF) awarded a $5,000 disaster relief grant to the Iowa Credit Union Foundation for disaster-related services to credit unions, their employees, volunteers, and members who were affected by the June flooding. It was the first disaster relief grant issued by the Foundation in 2008. According to the Iowa Credit Union Foundation, victims received $500 in assistance for daily living needs, such as food, water, ice, batteries, clothing, diapers, temporary shelter, housing, gas, and transportation. More than 20 credit union locations in several metropolitan areas were affected by the flood conditions, and many others have been impacted by utility outages occurring throughout the state.

A disaster relief grant was awarded to help Texas credit unions and their staffs and members who were affected by Hurricane Ike. The hurricane was the third most destructive hurricane in U.S. history, killing 82 people and causing $27 billion in damage—compromising 256 Texas credit union locations and their employees’ homes in September. It was the second disaster relief grant issued by the Foundation in 2008. OCUF Executive Director Becky Hart noted, “The Ohio Credit Union Foundation is proud to be able to provide this grant to the victims of the devastating hurricane."

Credit unions interested in offering financial support for national disasters can donate anytime through the National Credit Union Foundation’s online giving center, CUAid.
http://www.cuaid.coop

“We so excited about the financial support we have received from OCUF for our new financial education initiatives. With the support of OCUF, we look forward to bringing innovative financial education programs to our members and the greater credit union community.”
-- Danielle Chatfield-Beres, MidState Educators CU

“The program provided an immediate educational opportunity. Going forward, the program will be distributed to libraries, financial institutions, and community action agencies. It was a humbling experience to be a part of such a worthwhile program.”
-- Phil Buell, President/CEO, Superior Federal Credit Union

"The Credit Union Development Educators Training grounded my belief that I truly have found my calling by choosing to be a part of the Credit Union Movement, and it has shown me the various opportunities that I have to live the credit union philosophy of People Helping People."
-- Shari Duff, Classic FCU

“Without the support of the Ohio Credit Union Foundation, we would not have been able to produce the program with such rich content or distribute copies of the program, at no cost, to the individuals who needed the information the most.”
-- Denise Kisabeth, Director of Content Creation and Production, WBGU/PBS

“While at the [Credit Union National Association’s Governmental Affairs Conference], I was able to visit with legislators and learn their views on issues affecting the credit union movement.”
-- Sandy McCormick, Total Assurance FCU