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The National Credit Union Foundation, the Texas Credit Union Foundation, and the Louisiana Credit Union Foundation have activated the online disaster relief system CUAid.coop to raise money for credit union people affected by Hurricane Ike.
Credit union supporters in every state can now make donations through a secured website that accepts credit cards and wire transfers. While Texas credit unions can donate directly to the Texas Credit Union Foundation, individuals in Texas are encouraged to donate online via www.cuaid.coop/texas.
Likewise, while Louisiana credit unions can donate directly to the Louisiana Credit Union Foundation, individuals in Louisiana are encouraged to donate online via www.cuaid.coop/louisiana.
Credit union supporters everywhere else can donate via www.cuaid.coop.
“We are encouraging credit union leaders all across the county to use CUAid.coop as a channel to collect donations from their employees, volunteers, and members,” explained NCUF Deputy Director Steve Bosack.
“It never ceases to amaze me how willing the credit union movement is to open their hearts to one another in times of disaster,” noted Texas Credit Union Foundation Executive Director Jill Pharr. “Often times, consumers want to help in disaster situations, but they don’t always know how to channel their desires. CUAid is a wonderful tool to facilitate a relationship between donors and a reputable charitable organization. We are encouraging credit unions across the Lone Star State to make the CUAid link available on their website, so employees and members alike can contribute to disaster relief efforts.” |
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The National Credit Union Foundation has produced a supplement to Credit Union Magazine featuring stories of the credit union movement’s community outreach and social impact.
The Community Outreach and Social Impact Supplement highlights the Foundation's Annual Report packaged with Credit Union Magazine's October issue.
The supplement begins with stories from 16 of the states participating in NCUF’s signature program, REAL Solutions®.
These REAL Solutions® stories focus on how credit union members’ lives have changed as a result of products designed to help people with low wealth and modest means.
The supplement also includes stories of how national credit union service providers and individual credit unions make a social impact in their communities. |
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If credit unions learn from seven lessons in a new research report published by the National Credit Union Foundation, more credit unions can offer financially viable programs to help car buyers “steer clear” of predatory auto loans.
Steer Clear: How Credit Unions Help Car Buyers Avoid Predatory Loans, shows how credit unions could gain a sustainable share of the “non-prime” market, where 8 million used cars are sold each year to borrowers with less than prime credit scores.
The 57-page Steer Clear report is available free of charge, thanks to funding by NCUF and The Annie E. Casey Foundation.
NCUF plans to bring the Steer Clear project to a national scale by adding non-prime auto lending options for credit unions to offer through NCUF's signature program, REAL Solutions®. |
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 Thousands of growing credit unions owe a debt of gratitude to the fallen leader who will be honored with the 2009 Herb Wegner Memorial Award for Lifetime Achievement: William Charles “Bill” Sterner.
Decades before most credit unions learned to “reach out to new markets” and “serve the underserved,” Sterner was teaching these concepts around the world.
Tragically, Sterner passed away at age 66 this year after suffering a heart attack at the Credit Union Association of Colorado’s Legislative Forum.
Sterner will be honored posthumously, along with many people whose lives he touched, at the 21st Annual Wegner Awards Dinner presented by the National Credit Union Foundation.
Sterner’s vision was to “promote new and sustained membership” in cooperatives. Yet he paved his career path in a different direction than most cooperative pioneers. |
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NCUF to Present 2 Wegner Awards for Individual Achievement |
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For only the third time in 21 years, the National Credit Union Foundation (NCUF) Awards & Recognition Committee has seen fit to name two winners in a single category for the Herb Wegner Memorial Awards.
Winners of the 21st Annual Herb Wegner Memorial Awards for Individual Achievement are:
Rita Haynes, Manager & CEO of Faith Community United Credit Union in Cleveland, Ohio
Tom Sargent, President/CEO of First Tech Credit Union in Beaverton, Oregon
“Rita and Tom’s achievements are both extraordinary and unique,” related NCUF Awards & Recognition Committee Chairman Bob Schumacher. |
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 “Rita’s achievements in payday loan alternatives, second chance auto loans, and foreclosure preventions are shining examples of how credit unions can change lives by providing affordable financial services in low-income communities,” Schumacher observed. “And her achievements are especially amazing coming from a credit union with only $10 million in assets and four full-time staff.”
 ““Tom’s achievements in fundraising for ‘Credit Unions for Kids’ transcend even the largest credit unions,” Schumacher contrasted. “Tom has achieved what only the most effective national credit union leaders have done throughout our history – uniting credit unions across the country around a single cause. Tom has motivated credit unions of all sizes to do life-changing charity work in communities supporting Children’s Hospitals.”
Click to see Rita Haynes and Tom Sargent in action! |
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Learn how your credit union can use new strategies reach America's fastest-growing emerging markets, including millions of potential members who need to build wealth.
Attend the "REACH OUT!" Conference, October 12-15 in San Francisco, presented by the Credit Union National Association in partnership with the National Credit Union Foundation.
To preview the agenda and speakers, click here.
To register, click here for CUNA's secure registration site. |
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Cornell Research Cites REAL Solutions®
as "Successful Strategy" |
Research conducted by Cornell University in a report commissioned by the Filene Research Institute finds that "The REAL Solutions initiative illustrates the type of strategy credit unions could adopt to successfully engage the underserved financial market."
REAL Solutions® is the signature program of the National Credit Union Foundation. REAL Solutions® helps credit unions offer a wide range of financial services that have proven successful in serving working families with low wealth and modest means.
Researchers at Cornell University's Center for Sustainable Global Enterprise emphasized that "This is important because underserved households -- while at the bottom of the economic pyramid now -- represent future savers, future car-buyers, future homeowners, and future generations of credit union members."
This report, titled Back to the Future: Integrating Sustainability into Credit Union Strategy, touches on much of what REAL Solutions® has learned so far.... Several of the strategies detailed in the report are based on REAL Solutions’ practical experience. |
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Making television history, PBS stations serving 49 states and the District of Columbia have begun broadcasting the Biz Kid$ TV series exclusively underwritten by America’s Credit Unions to teach kids about money. It's the first national television series ever sponsored by credit unions.
More than 118 million American households -- including more than 230 million people over the age of two -- have access to the 26-episode series through 312 PBS stations.
According to Biz Kid$ Producer Jamie Hammond, the show is now the highest carried program on American Public Television and exceeds all their other children's programs in carriage by more than 20%.
Every Biz Kids episode begins and ends with a narrator reminding viewers that "Production funding for Biz Kid$ is provided by America's Credit Unions, where people are worth more than money."
Credit unions can download Biz Kid$ brochures, flyers, postcards, posters and statement stuffers to encourage their members to watch. Click here and scroll down the left side of the next page.
After each episode airs, Biz Kid$ curriculum is available at www.bizkids.com. These materials can be taught by schoolteachers, parents, and credit union people. |
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 The episode begins with a local underwriting spot from DFCU Financial Credit Union in Dearborn, Michigan.
The local credit union spot is followed by the America's Credit Unions spot that will be seen before and after every episode in every market where Biz Kid$ is being broadcast. |
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Registration Opens Nationwide for Social Impact Management Institute in New Mexico
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The National Credit Union Foundation will co-host its fourth Social Impact Management Institute, October 4-6 in Albuquerque, presented by the Credit Union Association of New Mexico.
The institute in New Mexico is an opportunity to interact with a new lineup of world-renowned experts who can help credit unions grow by reaching untapped markets.
Online registration is available at the Credit Union Association of New Mexico’s Learning Center. A discount rate of $170 per room has been secured at the Albuquerque Marriott. Credit union leaders can call (800) 334-2086 for reservations. |
| [ Who Should Attend – and Why ] |
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Donate Now before the next disaster to help your brothers and sisters in the credit union family.
Play this Video message from NCUF Executive Director Steve Delfin. |
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