Teri Curtis of A.O. Smith EFCU received an Ohio Credit Union Foundation (OCUF) professional development grant to attend CUNA's America’s Credit Union Conference and Expo in June. The grant provided Teri with the opportunity to collaborate with credit union leaders on a national level. “The experience reinforced the fellowship that I have experienced at the state convention,” said Curtis. “In addition, I received valuable marketing ideas that will help my credit union attract new members.”
 

Barbara Courter of St. Helen Federal Credit Union received an Ohio Credit Union Foundation (OCUF) professional development grant to attend the League’s Credit Union Forum on Public Affairs in October. Thanks to the grant, Courter was able to interact with her state legislators and learn about the financial education strategies utilized by credit unions in Ohio. “I hope to become more involved with community action in the near future,” said Courter. “I really enjoyed interacting with my legislators.”
 

Ohio Credit Union Foundation grant recipient Barbara Courter, Manager of St. Helen Federal CU, and with Paul Osterfeld, Manager of Dayton Postal ECU, at the Ohio Credit Union System ZENITH08 in April.

Parish Federal CU received an OCUF outreach grant to expand its financial education program for local grade school and junior high school students. The S.A.V.E.S. (Schools Advocate the Value of Early Savings) program is in its third year of successfully teaching early savings habits and money management skills. A credit union employee visits the school so students can open an account and make deposits. During the 2005-2006 school year, 103 student members made routine deposits. Even those as small as a few cents were accepted. Three schools located in the credit union’s field of membership received bi-weekly classroom visits. Grade-specific lessons are taught by a credit union employee who attends Parent Teacher Organization and teacher meetings to ensure that student needs are being met. Parish FCU believes that by serving the younger generation, they are creating financially knowledgeable and responsible individuals who will benefit the community as a whole when they reach adulthood.
 

The Summit Chapter received a Foundation outreach grant for half of the cost a 1-800 telephone line for the Akron Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Coalition’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites. The Summit Chapter has been involved with the board of the coalition since it was formed in 2003, and its credit unions have been strong players in the coalition through their volunteer efforts. More than $2.8 million in federal and state tax refunds has been returned VITA site users. Residents can call the 800-number 24/7 to schedule appointments or to volunteer to provide assistance at the VITA sites. The chapter is committed to assisting low- to moderate-income residents of Summit County by partnering with the EITC Coalition of Akron to provide a free tax filing service. In its first year, the EITC Coalition of Akron processed 240 tax returns in 2004 to low- to moderate-income residents of Summit County. In 2007, 1,614 tax returns were processed.

Four Ohio credit unions have received OCUF disaster relief grants to provide aide to the residents in Northwest Ohio that were impacted by the August flood. 

Millstream Area Credit Union received two disaster relief grants from OCUF to assist their members and community in rebuilding. Millstream Area Credit Union distributed $250 gift certificates with each disaster relief loan application completed by Hancock County homeowners. The gift certificates were used to replace home furnishings damaged by flood waters. A portion of the funds received by the credit union were allocated to the art department at Central Middle School, which serves 400 “at-risk” students annually, to replace instructional items destroyed by the flood.

Karen Reams and Jason Parkins of Millstream Area CU distribute flood relief checks to affected members.

Empire Affiliates Credit Union, a division of Toledo Area Community CU, received a disaster relief grant from OCUF to assist the Shelby City School System. The grant application was written in partnership with Gorman Rupp & Associates Credit Union. Two of the district's buildings and the football field were damaged by the August flood.  Empire Affiliates Credit Union distributed the funds to teachers that lost most, if not all, of their instructional materials.  The educational materials destroyed by the flood consisted of textbooks, activity kits, informational tubs, physical education supplies, and technology equipment. Without the materials the district would not be able to provide the students’ with a superior and challenging learning experience. Empire Affiliates Credit Union assisted the Shelby City School District in achieving their mission of developing each student's skill, attitude, and knowledge to the fullest potential.

Midwest Community Federal Credit Union received a disaster relief grant from the OCUF to provide assistance to Ottawa families. Midwest Community FCU launched an unsecured deferred-interest loan program to help residents cover the costs of rebuilding. The flood relief program offered loans at 0% APR interest for the first 90 days, adjusting to 6% APR on the 91st day. Because the families affected by the flood had varied needs, Midwest Community FCU offered $100 gift cards to the first 100 families that apply for a flood relief loan. To ensure that the entire community was assisted, Midwest Community FCU waived its membership fee.

Superior Federal Credit Union received a disaster relief grant from OCUF to provide aide to its 400 Ottawa members. The credit union used a portion of the funds to help 16 teachers replace instructional supplies destroyed by the August flood. The remaining grant dollars were used to aid members who were displaced from their homes as a result of the flood. Superior FCU matched the grant funds and cut its consumer loan rates for affected members to 5.50% APR.

"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

“Education programs like this are especially important in today’s financial environment. The other managers and I have made financial education a priority and look forward to doing another education program later this year.”
-- Mike Losneck, Eaton Family CU

“The in-depth level of the materials presented and the knowledge of the instructors were amazing. CUNA’s Certified Counselor School truly drove home the ‘People Helping People’ philosophy.” Teri Ault, MidState Educators CU

“Many of us at Superior Federal Credit Union became very involved in the relief effort and the grant dollars that we received from the Ohio Credit Union Foundation meant so much to us as well.”
-- Kurt Neeper, Superior FCU

“I do not think that we as credit union professionals can truly grasp the credit union movement as a whole until we experience training like [the National Credit Union Foundation’s] Development Educator Program.”
-- Josh Kurtz, Millstream Area CU

“Students had to create a budget, balance a checkbook, find housing, purchase insurance, and buy a vehicle using their assigned salary. They said that they learned a lot about real world expenses.”
-- Tricia Hale, Ohio University CU

“The goodwill demonstrated by staff members at Superior Federal Credit Union and the Ohio Credit Union Foundation proves that by supporting the communities we serve, we strengthen our business relationships.”
-- Kurt Neeper, Superior FCU

“This is our opportunity to uniquely practice the credit union philosophy of People Helping People.”
-- Kimberly Stillwagon, Associated School ECU

“I am fortunate to work for a credit union in Ohio, a state that recognizes the benefit of [the CUNA Management School] program and generously offers so many scholarships.”
 -- Cheryl Dorman, Mercy Health Partners FCU