​The Minnesota CU4Kids Karaoke for Kids event was another successful event, raising over $15,000 from 21 supporting credit unions and system partners. The annual live band karaoke fundraising event welcomed over 100 credit union professionals to join in for a fun-filled night of song and socializing. The CU4Kids committee would like to thank the supporting sponsors who make this event possible!

​Registration for the 27th Annual Minnesota CU4Kids Golf Tournament is open through Friday, June 10 and mark your calendars for a new CU4Kids fundraising event this fall at TopGolf on Wednesday, October 5!

​In case you missed the webinar last week, a recording of the virtual discussion about the Minnesota Credit Union Foundation is now available.

Topics included 2022 Foundation Grant opportunities, new programing options, and updates on the community give back programs of the Credit Unions 4 Kids Committee and the Foundation Scholarship Council.

​Learn more about grant dollars available for both credit unions and their staff members and how to be more involved in the credit union movement, and giving back to your community.

Learn more about how you can be involved with the Minnesota Credit Union Foundation! Have you ever wondered what the Minnesota Credit Union Foundation does? Did you know there are grant dollars available for both credit unions and their staff members? Do you want to be more involved in the credit union movement, and giving back to your community?

Please join the Foundation for a virtual conversation on Friday, May 6th from 10-11 am. Topics to be discussed include 2022 Foundation Grant opportunities, new programing options, and updates on the community give back programs of the Credit Unions 4 Kids Committee and the Foundation Scholarship Council.

The webinar is free but we do ask you to please register. With questions, please contact Andrea Molnau, Executive Director, MnCU Foundation.

​The Enhanced Financial Counseling Certification Program (FiCEP) teaches credit union staff how to counsel members so they can budget better, smartly save, pay down debt and plan for the future. Obtaining the training and associated credentials allows your credit union to differentiate itself from other financial institutions, and be more confident in helping members emerge from the challenges of the pandemic and build a stronger financial future.

The cohort-style training consists of 8 tutorial webinars, exam preparation, proctored exam, and program development training - taking place between June and October. Upon completion, participants will receive the Certified Credit Union Financial Counselor (CCUFC) designation. The program is provided in partnership between CUNA's Center for Professional Development (CUNA CPD), CU Difference, and a collaboration with the Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Montana Credit Union Foundations.

For more information, including cost and schedule, visit mncun.org/enhanced-ficep-program.

The deadline to register is Friday, May 6th. 

Join the Minnesota Credit Unions for Kids Committee for the 27th Annual Credit Unions for Kids Golf Tournament on Thursday, June 16, 2022 at the Refuge Golf Club in Oak Grove. Registration for the tournament closes on Friday, June 10 -- reserve your spot today!

​The Minnesota CU4Kids Golf Tournament, founded in 1995, supports Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals/Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare in St. Paul. Over the years the event has raised over a half-million dollars for the credit union-sponsored cause. 

​Thursday, June 16, 2022
Refuge Golf Club | Oak Grove, Minn.
11:00am – Registration/Box Lunch
12:00pm – Shotgun Start
4:30pm – Social Half-Hour
5:00pm – Awards Dinner

Please see the event flyer for further details and to register. With questions, reach out to Marty Kelly via email.

​Last week, members of the Minnesota Credit Unions for Kids Committee (CU4Kids) and the Foundation Scholarship Council (FSC) received awards for outstanding service at the ACCELERATE 22 conference at the Radisson Blu Mall of America in Bloomington.

​The Minnesota chapter of Credit Unions for Kids raises funds for Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare, a Children’s Miracle Network hospital. Minnesota CU4Kids has raised over $3 million for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals since 1997.

Caitlin Brama of Financial One Credit Union received the award for Minnesota CU4Kids Outstanding Volunteer. Caitlin has served on the committee since 2018 and was elected as co-chair of the CU4Kids committee in 2020, a position which she holds now.

The FSC strives to build credit union brand awareness and strengthen member relationships through its scholarship program. The FSC annual scholarship program is made possible through its annual silent auction.

Joann Ericksen of Minnesota Valley Federal Credit Union was named FSC Volunteer of the Year. Joann has served on the Foundation Scholarship Council committee since 2018 and has played a critical role in the success of FSC efforts throughout the pandemic.

“Both the Foundation Scholarship Council and Minnesota Credit Unions for Kids represent the credit union philosophies of cooperation and people helping people,” said Minnesota Credit Union Foundation Executive Director Andrea Molnau. “Caitlin and Joann have gone above and beyond by devoting their time and talent to ensuring their respective committees exceed their goals. On behalf of the Minnesota Credit Union Foundation, I would like to thank and congratulate both women.”

Dana Garrett, former Chair of the Minnesota Credit Union Foundation, was presented a Proclamation of Appreciation along with a Gavel Award in recognition of her time as chair and the leadership she provided the Foundation during the ceremony.

"The Minnesota Credit Union Foundation Board of Directors thanks Dana Garrett for her time and leadership as chair for the last two years and for her service to the board for the last 5 years," said Mark Cummins, President of the Minnesota Credit Union Foundation.

For more information the Minnesota Credit Union Foundation, the CU4Kids Committee and FSC, visit the Foundation section of the MnCUN website.

Learn more about how you can be involved with the Minnesota Credit Union Foundation 

​Have you ever wondered what the Minnesota Credit Union Foundation does? Did you know there are grant dollars available for both credit unions and their staff members? Do you want to be more involved in the credit union movement, and giving back to your community?
​
Please join the Foundation for a virtual conversation on Friday, May 6th from 10-11 am. Topics to be discussed include 2022 Foundation Grant opportunities, new programing options, and updates on the community give back programs of the Credit Unions 4 Kids Committee and the Foundation Scholarship Council.

The webinar is free but we do ask you to please register. With questions, please contact Andrea Molnau, Executive Director, MnCU Foundation. 

​​AI-based lending uses more data and better math to give credit unions a more accurate view of borrower risk than legacy scoring.

​In this session, you’ll hear how credit unions are yielding big gains in loan growth (20% to 30%) without adding risk. Jose Valentin, VP of Corporate Development at Zest AI, will talk about the key concerns and hurdles and how to find the right partner to develop an AI model and deploy it in your lending business without headaches or hassles.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the FREE webinar on April 7, from 10:30 to 11:30 AM.

Zest AI is a technology CUSO based in Los Angeles. They were founded in 2009 to make fair credit available to everyone. Zest's AI-driven lending software delivers better, faster, fairer loans across the credit spectrum, helping credit unions safely say "yes" to more members without increasing risk.