International Credit Union Day

Earlier in the week, we examined the differences between banks and credit unions and learned about credit unions’ historical roots in cooperation and the mutual benefit of members. Today, as credit unions globally celebrate International Credit Union Day, we’ll explore how the Alliant Credit Union Foundation exemplifies this year’s event theme of “Local Service, Global Good.”

“Since the Alliant Credit Union Foundation began five short years ago, it has given out over $1 million to enhance economic empowerment and self-sufficiency in places where Alliant Credit Union members and employees live and work,” said Foundation President and Alliant Credit Union Chief Investment Officer Wayne Rosenwinkel.

The Foundation, a 501c3 not-for-profit charitable organization, donated over $200,000 to various national and local charities in amounts ranging from $500 to $30,000 in the recently completed 2014 fiscal year. The good works done by the Foundation – and by Alliant’s Civic Affairs committee and Alliant employees who volunteer their time nationwide – are the embodiment of the credit union ethos of serving the local community and working for the greater good.

• Prescott Magnet Cluster School — The Alliant Credit Union Foundation partners with Prescott Magnet Cluster School in Chicago to provide school supplies for students. Additionally, for each break in the school calendar, the Foundation purchases books for students to read with their families and add to their home libraries. 
  
  
  A collage of notes and artwork sent to Alliant by the students of Chicago’s Prescott Magnet Cluster School as a thank you for donations of school supplies and books.

• Business and Professional Women’s (BPW) Foundation — The Foundation provides ongoing support to BPW’s Joining Forces Mentoring Plus® program, which provides complimentary financial education and job counseling to U.S. military wives and women veterans.
   
• Foster Care to Success — Foundation grants help Foster Care to Success achieve its vital mission of providing educational guidance, financial aid and other help to youths aging out of foster care.
   
• Local Community Libraries— The Foundation has purchased DVD boxed sets of the TV show Biz Kid$, a PBS program that addresses topics related to financial literacy and business. Alliant donated the boxed sets of each of the first four seasons of the program to libraries in communities surrounding its headquarters near Chicago’s O’Hare Airport.
   
• American Heart Association — Alliant Wear Red Day raised awareness and money in the fight against heart disease in women. The Foundation donated $10 for each of the 242 Alliant employees wearing red for the day.
   
• Operation HOPE — Alliant aids Operation Hope via grants from the Foundation and a team of Alliant employees who teach its Banking on our Future financial literacy program on a volunteer basis. During the 2013-2014 school year, Alliant taught 64 classes about money management and finances to the nearly 500 eighth graders in the Des Plaines, Illinois, public school system.
   
• Hadley School for the Blind — The Foundation continues to support Hadley’s Forsythe Center for Entrepreneurship. Alliant’s support enabled the development of an online course on developing entrepreneurial skills for the blind, a population with an unemployment rate of over 75% nationally.
   
• United Airlines Foundation — The Foundation supports United’s annual North Pole Fantasy Flight. Alliant employees volunteered at participating airports, arranging decorations, serving treats and providing other services to make the holidays festive for seriously ill or disadvantaged children and people with disabilities. Fantasy Flights took the recipients to the "North Pole," including visits with Santa, gifts, food and other holiday activities.
  
  
  Two of Santa’s elves, Alliant’s Matthew McMillon (left) and Marcos Magana, helped decorate the "North Pole" at Los Angeles International Airport.
   

• Bears Care (Chicago Bears charity) — Bears Care, an organization committed to improving the quality of life for people in the Chicagoland community, especially disadvantaged children and their families, was the recipient of funds raised by employees at Alliant’s annual Super Bowl Chili Day. The Foundation provided matching funds, bringing the total donation to nearly $8,000.
   

“Alliant Credit Union Foundation is proud of its continuing support of schools, charities and other organizations that work to improve the quality of life in the communities of our members and employees,” said Alliant Credit Union CEO and Foundation Chair David Mooney.