Recently, 10 Maine credit unions were recognized with a record 19 awards as the 2013 honorees of the Dora Maxwell Social Responsibility Community Services Awards, the Louise Herring Philosophy In Action Member Service Awards and the Desjardins Youth and Adult Financial Education Awards.
The state awards were presented at the Maine Credit Union League’s Annual Meeting and Convention in Portland. The Awards are part of a national awards program coordinated by the Credit Union National Association.
The winners in each asset category will compete in the National Awards program in the fall.
Eastmill Federal Credit Union, with its main office in East Millinocket and its branch office in Patten, was second in the Dora Maxwell Social Responsibility Community Service Award, which encourages Credit Union involvement in community projects and activities. This category is for credit unions with $50-$100 million in assets.
Placing first was Central Maine Federal Credit Union, with its main office in Lewiston and branch office in Auburn.
Professionals from the Maine Public Relations Council judged the awards, which honor Credit Unions for community and/or member service efforts during the past year, a year that again saw the Maine Credit Union Movement accomplish significant achievements in community-service activities and special initiatives for members.
The judges called the efforts of Maine’s credit unions “a demonstration of what can be accomplished when people cooperate with each other to make our communities and our state a better place.”
During the past year, Maine Credit Unions demonstrated an everyday commitment to their communities and the people who live there. Accomplishments include: raising nearly $1.4 million for various causes, such as a record-setting $471,000 for the Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger, $75,000 for Maine Special Olympics, $45,000 for the Children’s Miracle Network, $75,000 for the Maine Children’s Cancer Program, $10,000 for Lewiston Fire Victims and many more. In addition, Maine credit unions volunteered more than 41,000 hours for community organizations and activities across Maine. As a result of this tireless commitment and dedication to the credit union philosophy of ‘people helping people’, Maine is one of the nation’s strongest credit union movements in community-service, member education and financial education involvement.
Maine’s credit unions also provided significant initiatives to members that highlight the credit union difference, such as special low or no interest loans for fuel assistance, distributing books to school libraries, programs for financial education and other programs to help members in difficult times.
John Murphy, president of the Maine Credit Union League, praised Maine’s credit unions for “year in and year out highlighting the true spirit of the credit union philosophy of ‘people helping people’. Maine credit unions are about not only helping their members financially but are committed to helping to make their communities a better place to live. Through ordinary and extraordinary acts, Maine credit unions, as member-owned cooperatives, are about enriching the lives of Maine people, financially and socially.
