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CU FORWARD® represents credit unions of all sizes commitment to give back to their communities in a cooperative effort through promoting:
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CU FORWARD Day 2022
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CU FORWARD Day, the annual celebration of credit unions spreading kindness, will be held on Monday, October 10, 2022.
In 2021, 2,300 volunteers from 64 Credit Unions and partners dedicated the day to community service projects totaling over 10,000 hours. We're looking forward to collaborating with credit unions and partners to share kindness in their communities. With questions, please contact Director of Engagement, Ben Hering, via email or by phone at (612) 239-0026. |
2021 Participants
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Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union
Altra Federal Credit Union Anoka Hennepin Credit Union Associated Healthcare Credit Union Association for Black Economic Power BCU Brainerd B.N. Credit Union Building Trades Credit Union Case Financial Central Minnesota Credit Union Centricity Credit Union City & County Credit Union Co-op Credit Union of Montevideo CU Recovery & The Loan Service Center CUNA Mutual Group Embarrass Vermillion Federal Credit Union Financial One Credit Union First Alliance Credit Union First Community Federal Credit Union FIRST PACE Credit Union Fulda Area Credit Union Great River Federal Credit Union Heartland Credit Union Hiway Credit Union HBI Employees Credit Union HomeTown Credit Union Ideal Credit Union Mayo Employees Federal Credit Union Members Cooperative Credit Union Mid Minnesota Federal Credit Union Minnco Credit Union Minnesota Commerce Department |
Minnesota Credit Union Network
Minnesota Valley Minnesota Power Employees Credit Union My Credit Union NetGiver North Memorial Federal Credit Union North Star Credit Union Northern Communities Credit Union NSP - St. Paul Credit Union NorthRidge Community Credit Union Northwoods Credit Union Novation Credit Union Red Wing Credit Union Riverview Credit Union Royal Credit Union SharePoint Credit Union Star Choice Credit Union South Metro Federal Credit Union SouthPoint Financial Credit Union SPIRE Credit Union Teamsters Credit Union THRIVE Strategic Services TopLine Federal Credit Union Transit Operations Federal Credit Union TruLync TruStone Financial Credit Union United Financials Making a Difference Unity One Credit Union Virginia Co-op Credit Union Wakota Federal Credit Union Wings Financial Wrong About Everything Podcast |
Credit Unions Give Back Through the CU FORWARD Kindness Initiative
CU FORWARD Day – held annually on the second Monday is October is a Minnesota state-wide initiative of credit unions employees, members and partners coming together to volunteer with local organizations, give back to our communities, commit random acts of kindness and generally just say “thank you” to the people who deserve it most.
A Growing Concept
Initially focused on Affinity Plus’ employees dedicating eight hours to volunteerism, the event has grown substantially. In 2016 Plus It Forward event included 25 participating credit unions resulting in more than 1,200 employees and members dedicating over 7,300 total volunteer hours to scatter kindness in their communities.
In a response to the growing cooperative nature of the event, the Minnesota Credit Union Network assumed the coordination of credit union participation, tracking and media efforts going forward under the umbrella name CU Forward Day starting in 2017.
In 2020, 3,300 volunteers from 53 Credit Unions and partners dedicated the day to community service projects totaling over 6,000 hours and $300,000 in donations. We're looking forward to collaborating with credit unions and partners to share kindness in their communities.
The concept is now taking hold outside of Minnesota. Illinois launched CU Kind Day, a credit union driven kindness day, and Mississippi credit unions are also piloting a giveback day through their young professional’s group, LEAD.
Exemplifying the Cooperative Model
We talk about credit unions being cooperatives, people helping people organizations, and businesses that are engrained within our communities, but sometimes, it might be hard for our members to see that. What does that really look like? What does that really mean?
CU Forward Day truly exemplifies what it means to be a cooperative through tangibly showing our members what cooperation among cooperatives looks like and our genuine concern for community. Participation across credit unions varies – some credit unions close their branch locations with every employee going out into the community, others remain open and conduct fundraisers or in-branch activities – but the shared idea of giving back is the same.
When credit unions come together to collaborate, and people can see that, our organizations have an opportunity to speak to the credit union difference within the banking world. Then, with the shear numbers of credit unions and people coming together, working collectively, the impact exponentially increases, further driving home the “people helping people” message.
For CU FORWARD Day, the Network will inspire ideas, help plan credit union involvement, provide examples, best practices and resources, organize social media, and share stories throughout the state. Specifically:
Example Credit Union Kindness Action and Member Impact
A Growing Concept
Initially focused on Affinity Plus’ employees dedicating eight hours to volunteerism, the event has grown substantially. In 2016 Plus It Forward event included 25 participating credit unions resulting in more than 1,200 employees and members dedicating over 7,300 total volunteer hours to scatter kindness in their communities.
In a response to the growing cooperative nature of the event, the Minnesota Credit Union Network assumed the coordination of credit union participation, tracking and media efforts going forward under the umbrella name CU Forward Day starting in 2017.
In 2020, 3,300 volunteers from 53 Credit Unions and partners dedicated the day to community service projects totaling over 6,000 hours and $300,000 in donations. We're looking forward to collaborating with credit unions and partners to share kindness in their communities.
The concept is now taking hold outside of Minnesota. Illinois launched CU Kind Day, a credit union driven kindness day, and Mississippi credit unions are also piloting a giveback day through their young professional’s group, LEAD.
Exemplifying the Cooperative Model
We talk about credit unions being cooperatives, people helping people organizations, and businesses that are engrained within our communities, but sometimes, it might be hard for our members to see that. What does that really look like? What does that really mean?
CU Forward Day truly exemplifies what it means to be a cooperative through tangibly showing our members what cooperation among cooperatives looks like and our genuine concern for community. Participation across credit unions varies – some credit unions close their branch locations with every employee going out into the community, others remain open and conduct fundraisers or in-branch activities – but the shared idea of giving back is the same.
When credit unions come together to collaborate, and people can see that, our organizations have an opportunity to speak to the credit union difference within the banking world. Then, with the shear numbers of credit unions and people coming together, working collectively, the impact exponentially increases, further driving home the “people helping people” message.
For CU FORWARD Day, the Network will inspire ideas, help plan credit union involvement, provide examples, best practices and resources, organize social media, and share stories throughout the state. Specifically:
- Communications – highlighting via the Pulse newsletter, sharing credit union stories via our social media channels, and creating short videos to inspire action.
- Impact Collection – creating a survey to compile credit union actions and activities throughout this time.
- Resource sharing – updating our CU FORWARD webpage with examples, ideas and resources. Facilitate and create connections for credit unions to collaborate on kindness activities together.
Example Credit Union Kindness Action and Member Impact
- Paying for strangers’ groceries, lunch, gas.
- Bringing treats to frontline workers, and performing random acts of kindness like buying people's coffee and leaving rolls of quarters at the laundry mats.
- Writing thank you notes to first responders, thanking local police and fire department.
- Supporting local organizations through food, clothing and fund drives.
- Volunteering at nonprofits across the state.
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In 2013, Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union hosted their first organization-wide Plus It Forward Day. Initially focused on Affinity Plus’ employees dedicating eight hours to volunteerism, the event has grown substantially – the 2016 Plus It Forward event included 25 participating credit unions resulting in more than 1,200 employees and members dedicating over 7,300 total volunteer hours to scatter kindness in their communities. In a response to the growing cooperative nature of the event, the Minnesota Credit Union Network now coordinates credit union participation and media efforts going forward under the umbrella name CU Forward Day. Questions? MnCUN Director of Engagement, Ben Hering by email or by phone at 651-288-5519. |
