Being not-for-profit cooperatives, credit unions are guided by a primary industry principle of “people helping people.” With that in mind, credit unions traditionally focus on financial literacy initiatives and community involvement to demonstrate their principles:

Financial Literacy Initiatives

2009 Bet You Can Save Challenge (Central Ohio):

“The Bet You Can Save Challenge consisted of 11 Central Ohio credit unions working together to help ten families to increase their savings and decrease their total debt. Whichever family met or exceed both goals, won $10,000! The challenge began in June and lasted until November, with each family meeting with their financial coach and blogging their experiences. The challenge was featured on Fox 28's Good Morning Columbus. By the end of the challenge, the families had significantly reduced their overall debt and substantially increased their savings.

CME Federal Credit Union

"At CME - Community Means Everything! We care about giving back to the communities where our members live. That's why we sponsor community events and festivals, donate to charity, and volunteer for various community organizations. In addition we host an annual golf outing benefitting our founding members, police and fire."

Some of the organizations we have sponsored include:

• Westerville Fire Fighters Memorial Fund
• Get Behind the Badge
• The Fraternal Order of Police
• Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
• American Red Cross
• Operation Homefront
• Muscular Dystrophy Foundation
• Columbus Recreation and Parks Foundation
• Westerville Arts and Music Festival
• Clintonville 4 th of July Fireworks
• Pickerington Violet Festival
• Old Hilliard Street Fest
• Firefighters 4 Kids Toy Drive

Credit Union of Ohio:

To ensure the financial health of our members and our communities now and always, Credit Union of Ohio participates in and sponsors several programs that teach financial literacy to our members and the public at large, here are highlight programs:

OSU Saves:   2011 marks the inaugural year for this annual savings campaign on OSU's campus.  OSU Saves is an expansion of America Saves, a nationwide initiative to encourage consumers to “build wealth, not debt.”  We are proud to be the founding financial institution, leading the coalition of university and community officials to bring this campaign to life.
The Steve Stoffel Memorial Video Scholarship:   The annual video scholarship contest is designed to educate students in a peer-to-peer message about smart ways to manage their money.  In 2010, we challenged students to save $20 a day for 10 days and show us how they did it.  The 2011 theme was “The Good, The Bad, and The Money” which asked students to talk about good and bad choices they've made with their money.
Real Money, Real World:   We proudly sponsored this interactive “game of life” at Hilliard Weaver Middle School to give students the opportunity to make lifestyle and budget choices similar to what they will make as adults.  We partnered with, the Treasurer of State and OSU Extension Office in Franklin County to bring the program to Hilliard.  It is popular day and a tradition for Hilliard eighth graders.
Financial Fridays:   Social media is a powerhouse venue to spread the word about good money management.  Each Friday, we post helpful advice, tips, and links for consumers to explore to stretch their earnings and save on our social media sites.  Soon consumers will be able to find helpful videos on daily budgeting, credit management, and avoiding home foreclosure.
Lunch ‘n Learn:   We hold regular free Lunch ‘n Learn sessions for our select employer and community groups—sharing with them how to budget, understand their credit score, repair credit, to finance a home/car/college, and much more. In 2010 alone, we we're able to help over 2,000 members protect their personal finances from reductions in income and recession.

KEMBA Financial Credit Union:

"KEMBA Provided financial education booklets and curriculum to teachers working at the schools in the communities we serve."

Members First Credit Union:

“Each year, we partner with the TriVillage Mentor League for their after-school latchkey program for K-3 kids and their high school mentors in two school districts. With this partnership, we put together a custom financial literacy program for the kids one week of every month that school is in session. Key objectives and topics are discussed each week, while incorporating a fun game environment for the littles and bigs to work together and learn about money and savings. To date, we have worked with over 600 kids to help them on the road to financial success!”

SMART Federal Credit Union:

As a credit union dedicated to serving school employees, we take pride in being involved in the education process. We have taken the OCUL-based program " MoneyAndStuff " and created our own educational curriculum and have visited more than 1000 classrooms. We cater our program to students K-12, covering everything from needs and wants to budgeting and credit scores. With the support of our members, SFCU continues to uphold the motto of "People Helping People."

STE Credit Union:

“In 2009, we facilitate “Brown Bag” Lunch Financial Education courses for employees of the Ohio Department of Transportation, Ohio Department of Youth Services, and Ohio Department of Public Safety. Class topics included but were not limited to credit repair, budgeting and consumer rights, and identity theft protection information. These courses have been conducted at various facilities throughout the state of Ohio.

We also provided educational materials from the National Endowment for Financial Education at no cost to educators at the 2009 SCOPE Day at Rivervalley High School. Two financial education classes were also offered to educators in attendance that afternoon, covering topics of credit repair and how to distinguish between “good debt” and “bad debt.”

Finally, we conducted Financial Education Classes for members of Hogue Memorial Presbyterian Church. The courses were designed to meet the varying needs of the membership and ranged in topics from meal planning on a fixed budget to the security of funds on deposit with insured financial institutions.

In the coming year, we are preparing a financial education course for the Salvation Army Day Camp. The camp provides daytime activities to approximately 30 children ranging in ages 6-14. Various activities will be coordinated for the different age groups.”

Community Service, Outreach and Social Initiatives

Marching Miles for Miracle Kids (Statewide):

Marching Miles for Miracle Kids is an Ohio statewide event to support Children's Miracle Network and Ohio's Children's Hospitals. The event happens annually in March/April and coincides with the Ohio Credit Union League's annual convention and the Cherry Blossom Run in Washington, DC. The event consists of a walks across the state in the vicinity of a Children's Hospital. Marchers raise donations for the event, which go to local Children's Hospitals. In 2011, Ohio's credit unions raised $130,000 during the event, bringing the total funds raised since 2007 to over $500,000!.

CME Federal Credit Union:

"The CME Federal Credit Union Scholarship Program was established to provide educational funds for members who are graduating high school seniors. CME Federal Credit Union will award four $1,000 scholarships to full-time students enrolled in an accredited college or university for the 2011-2012 academic year. Applications are judged on academic performance and an essay topic."

Credit Union of Ohio:

“We work with community and charitable organizations to bring about positive effects on our local, state, national and world communities. Our commitment includes both service to these organizations, as well as financial support and charitable contributions. We partner with the following organizations: A Kid Again, Children's Miracle Network Annual Telethon, Grandview/Marble Cliff Area Chamber, Grove City Area Chamber, Hilliard Area Chamber, Mid-Ohio Food Bank, National Credit Union Foundation, Ohio Credit Union Foundation, Special Olympics of Ohio, Hilliard Division of Police, Arts in the Alley Festival, Taste of Hilliard, Hollyfest Scholarship Foundation, Salvation Army, Soup for Kids Day (CMN), Leadership Hilliard, and the OSU Hot Dog Cookout.

In early 2010, we made a very important contribution to Ohio's school children. Credit Union of Ohio donated $50,000 to the Ohio Statehouse Museum, so visitors from all over Ohio could learn about Ohio's history. The museum has undergone tremendous upgrades and renovations to enrich the experience for visitors. Our donation helps offset a reduction in state funding for education and ensure that all Ohio school children have the opportunity to visit the ‘People's Statehouse.' We have members in all 88 counties of Ohio, this is the most comprehensive way we can give back to everyone equally, instead of just one community at a time.”

KEMBA Financial Credit Union

"We supported the following organizations and events with monetary donations:"

Ohio Healthcare Federal Credit Union:

“We support many healthcare-related initiatives in Ohio, including the OhioHealth Foundation education fund by sharing revenue from all ATM surcharges; we fund annual scholarships through the Ohio Nurses Foundation to send individuals to nursing school; Credit Unions for Kids (CMN) receives funds from our Skip-a-Pay program, vending machine profits, the Change Bandit program, CMN Annual Telethon and more; we support Nurturing the Nursing Profession, Mid-Ohio District Nurses Association, School of Allied Medical Professionals, various OhioHeath events, and the Ohio Nurses Association; and finally, we've also developed a Professional Development Share Certificate to assist healthcare professionals with development expenses.”

State Highway Patrol Federal Credit Union:

“We support several organizations specific to law enforcement, such as Get Behind the Badge, a nonprofit organization that benefits the families of fatally wounded or critically injured law enforcement personnel in the line of duty, and also support various fallen officers memorial funds. We participate in the Ohio Credit Union Foundation, which supports outreach programs that promote financial independence through credit unions. We support the annual Marching Miles and Children's Miracle Network collections for local children's hospitals. A Donation is made to Flying Horse Farms, an Ohio camp for children with serious illnesses, for each youth savings account opened. We award several college scholarships amongst our membership yearly.”

STE Credit Union:

“We do many things each year to support our communities. We adopt two families for Christmas each year through the Salvation Army's Adopt-A-Family program. Credit union employees serve with the Hilltop Kiwanis, Hilltop Salvation Army, Advisory Council for Credit Unions for Kids, CMN Annual Telethon, and the YWCA Soup Kitchen. Donations are made to various groups throughout the year, including multiple food pantries, CMN, and Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. STE is sponsoring three children for Salvation Army Day Camp this summer, which provides daytime activities to approximately 30 children ages 6-14. We are also participating Hilltop Bean Dinner Community Festival to spread the credit union message.”

Total Assurance Federal Credit Union:

“Being one of the smallest credit unions in Central Ohio, just three employees, doesn't mean that we can't make a difference in our communities. We have volunteered with the YWCA Soup Kitchen on a regular basis. This year, we're excited to be a part of the CMN Annual Telethon, as well as made charitable donations to Children's Miracle Network.”

Annual Scholarship Programs

Central Ohio Chapter of Credit Unions:

“Each year, the Central Ohio Chapter of Credit Unions offers several $1,000 scholarships to graduating seniors in the Central Ohio area. Hundreds of applicants submit each year for an award. Six scholarships were awarded this past year. Winners were moved forward to a statewide competition held by the Ohio Credit Union League.

Credit Union of Ohio:

Our annual video scholarship contest is designed to educate students in a peer-to-peer message about smart ways to manage their money.  In 2010, we challenged students to save $20 a day for 10 days and show us how they did it.  The 2011 theme was “The Good, The Bad, and The Money” which asked students to talk about good and bad choices they've made with their money.

Ohio Healthcare Federal Credit Union:

“We have our own scholarship program for continuing education for healthcare professionals as well as graduating seniors going on to college. In addition, we have created an education fund with the OhioHealth Foundation to fund nursing certification scholarships and other education opportunities for our healthcare members. Our education fund is funded by a portion of our ATM surcharges received from non-members using our ATMs."