Scott Credit Union has made giving back to its communities a major priority.
The local credit union contributed about $370,000 and its employees volunteered more than 2,400 hours to a variety of local civic efforts throughout the region through the end of 2015.
The credit union has contributed approximately $1.75 million and its employees have volunteered nearly 15,000 hours to a variety of local civic efforts and financial education throughout the region in the past seven years.
"We realize that without our members and the communities in which we serve, we would not exist as a financial alternative," said Scott Credit Union Community Relations Supervisor Jennifer Hess. "Through the end of the year, we donated about $370,000 to a variety of fund-raising efforts, civic organizations and to sponsor sports teams and community events."
Scott Credit Unions top volunteer in 2015 was Janine Gurley. She volunteered 255 hours at 77 events throughout the area last year.
"Making our community a better place is clearly one of Scott Credit Unions goals," Gurley noted.�"Volunteering at 77 events allows me to spend time with my family, while working with some incredibly wonderful colleagues and organizations.�With Relay For Life, being in parades and ringing the bell for The Salvation Army, my 255 hours of volunteer work has given me an opportunity to show how proud I am of SCU."
"This company has made me and my family better people within our community," Gurley added.�"It has given us the opportunity to attend events, talk with others and create a community where everyone feels accepted and loved.�Volunteering is about becoming a better person and showing my family how being a part of something bigger and greater can positively impact so many lives."
The credit union has increased its community involvement in the past few years while also increasing its efforts to educate consumers of the value of doing their financial business with a not-for-profit credit union.
"We really want people in the area to know more about the value of doing business with a credit union," Hess added. "That is why we have focused our time on educating area residents about Scott Credit Union. One of the big ways weve done that is through our community involvement."
"Conducting financial business with a credit union saves the consumer real money," said Scott Credit Union President & CEO Frank Padak. "Many credit unions, like Scott Credit Union, offer similar products and services to what the conventional financial institutions have, but we do so with our members best interest in mind because we are a not-for-profit cooperative. Plus, we care about the community and we are committed to supporting local efforts through contributions and volunteerism."
Scott Credit Union created a Community Volunteer Incentive (VIP) Program to show how important community involvement is to the organization and to encourage the staff to volunteer their time supporting local efforts, Hess said.
"The community VIP program has gone great. We simply offer our staff a chance to win prizes for volunteering," she explained. "Our staff logged 2,400 hours in community service at a variety of charitable or civic events. Were extremely excited and proud of our staff for all that they do to give back to the community."
Scott Credit Union has supported many regional and local projects in and around the 13 communities in which it has branches, Hess noted.
"We pledged $20,000 to the American Cancer Society," she added. "We continued our pledge of $20,000 per year for five years for the new St. Josephs Hospital in Highland and the same to the expanded Kaskaskia College Trenton Education Center."
Scott Credit Union contributed $10,000 to the MS Society, $25,000 over three years to Edwardsville Rotary Playground, $13,000 to the Gateway Region YMCA, $11,000 to the American Heart Association, and $10,000 to 375
th Force Support Squadron and $6,000 to 126
th Air Refueling Wing programs at Scott Air Force Base.
The local cooperative credit union also contributed $5,500 to Special Olympics, $5,000 to the Edwardsville YMCA and $4,800 to Belleville East & West Athletics.
"We also donated $1,000 to several other community groups, including Hope Rescues, the Arthritis Foundation, Edwardsville Little Tigers Football, Mascoutah Little Indians Football and the Troy Titans Football Club," she added.
Scott Credit Union is a not-for-profit financial cooperative that is member owned. The credit union recently gave over $1.3 million back to members through a bonus dividend and loan interest rebate.
Scott Credit Union is open to anyone who lives or works in a 17 county area, including Madison, St. Clair, Monroe, Randolph, Perry, Franklin, Jefferson, Washington, Clinton, Marion, Bond, Macoupin, Montgomery, Fayette, Effingham, Williamson, and Jackson counties. Anyone who lives or works in St. Louis County, Missouri also can open accounts at SCU. Additionally, anyone active or retired military also can have accounts with Scott Credit Union.
Scott Credit Union currently has 15 area locations: Scott Air Force Base, East Belleville, Fairview Heights, Collinsville, OFallon, Edwardsville, Waterloo, Highland, Caseyville, West Belleville, Millstadt, Mascoutah, Troy, Wood River and its Home Office in Edwardsville.
For details on opening accounts at Scott Credit Union, visit
www.scu.org, call 1-800-888-4728, or stop by any of the credit unions branches.
