Record 22 entries for Community-Service, Member Education, and Financial Education awards

Westbrook, ME - Community-service, member education and financial education? These have all been synonymous with Maine credit unions for years. However, getting credit unions to take the time to get all of this great and meaningful work and efforts recognized has been an on-going challenge. However, the 2018 Maine CU League state awards received a record number of entries from credit unions. In total, 22 credit unions were recognized for various initiatives and contributions to their communities, members and others.

“By nature, credit unions are historically humble. Many of the initiatives that credit unions do is not about getting recognition, it’s about doing the right thing,” said Jon Paradise, Vice President of Public Affairs and Engagement for the Maine Credit Union League and who helps to coordinate the state awards program. “Some of the projects that credit unions do are truly amazing, and it’s great to see so many taking the time to submit an entry for recognition.”

The 2018 State Awards recognize credit unions for community-service, member education and youth and adult financial education. In addition to many other credit unions, we were honored with the following:

Dora Maxwell Community-Service Award - Honorable Mention:
Community CU

Louise Herring Member Education Award - Second Place:
Community CU

Desjardins Youth Financial Education Award - Honorable Mention:
Community CU

Desjardins Adult Financial Education Award - First Place:
Community CU

“From saving members money and doing fantastic social responsibility efforts for ending hunger and other community-related projects to providing youth financial education to thousands of Maine students and providing unique educational opportunities and seminars aimed at helping adults become more financially successful, Maine credit unions are demonstrating the ‘people helping people’ philosophy on a daily basis,” added Paradise.

All first-place honorees will compete in the national competition, coordinated by the Credit Union National Association (CUNA), in the fall. At least one Maine credit union has received a national award in this competition in 15 out of the past 19 years.