Zeal CU Employees Rise Up to "Zeal the Love" Challenge

Livonia, MI (January 8, 2018) – The holidays were especially busy for the employees of Zeal Credit Union after the executive team asked, “What could your department do with $250 to help the less fortunate this holiday season?”

Quickly, 170 employees in 26 departments started brainstorming ideas, and results exceeded any expectations the executive team had for what they called the “Zeal the Love” challenge.

“The list of organizations and people who need help during the holidays is endless and we couldn’t do this alone,” said Lisa Fawcett, chief marketing officer of Zeal Credit Union. Zeal needed the help of its employees to make the biggest impact and bring the most holiday cheer to causes that its employees are passionate about. 

Fawcett added, “We could have written a check to a local charity and call it a day. But, we knew that dividing up the money and putting it to work through our staff would help us reach more people in need.”

Zeal allocated $250 to each department, totaling $6,500 to brighten the holiday season for those in need. The true holiday magic was that Zeal staff managed to almost double that amount. By holding their own fundraisers and making personal contributions, the staff turned Zeal’s $6,500 contribution into nearly $12,000 in donations for 21 charities. 

While the funds were used for monetary donations or to buy items for selected charitable organizations, many employees donated their time as well.

“Everyone pitched in by volunteering hours for shopping, packing boxes, wrapping gifts, walking dogs at the shelter, cooking for fundraisers, and making personal donations,” said Fawcett.

The credit union’s TeleServices department selected the Methodist Children’s Home Society to help children, mostly boys, who have been impacted by childhood trauma.

“I drive past Methodist Children’s Home Society every day on my way into work,” said Sydney Richardson, a TeleServices representative who recommended the organization. “This charity is very important to me because my mother was adopted by my grandmother when she was very young. I know that some of these boys will spend majority of their lives in foster care, and never really get to experience Christmas the same way I did as a child. It was very important to me to that we gave them something memorable and were able to make them smile.”

Teleservices gave the boys a weight bench with barbell and dumbbell set. The department also went the extra mile with family, friends and others who contributed to help buy clothing, additional gym equipment and a variety of items on the Society’s wish list.

The Lending department donated as many coats, hats and mittens as they could to a local elementary school. In addition to $250 the department received, team members held two fundraisers including a “Soup for Coats” day in Zeal’s headquarters lunchroom and a “Chili Cookoff” in the headquarters café. With a combined total of more than $500, they were able to completely outfit 33 children in Lincoln Park with new coats, hats and mittens.

Other recipients of the credit union’s “Zeal the Love” challenge were Angel House, Capuchin Soup Kitchen, Livonia Police and Fire Departments, Wayne County Family Center in Westland, Taylor Animal Shelter, Volunteers of America – Adopt a Family, Last Day Dog Rescue, Child Family Services of Michigan – Operation Good Cheer, Melvindale Housing Commission, Ronald McDonald House, Detroit Rescue Mission, COTS Homeless Shelter, VFW – VA Hospital Veterans, Mittens for Detroit, Cass Community Social Services, Rivergate Healthcare Center, Westland Goodfellows – Adopt a Family, and a Zeal member in need.

Zeal employees were also given the opportunity to vote on the best idea. The Lending Department was voted as number one and received an additional $500 for its charity.

“Our credit union has a long history of supporting the metro Detroit community. This challenge was a way for all of our employees to experience and participate in the joy of giving back,” said Lisa Fawcett, chief marketing officer for Zeal Credit Union. “It also demonstrates the character, empathy and passion all of our employees have for our members and the community.”

To read more stories about Zeal Credit Union staff helping others in the community, visit www.zealthelove.com.

Zeal Credit Union is a full-service, non-profit financial institution with more than 61,000 members, assets exceeding $570 million and 13 full-service branch offices in metro Detroit. Members also have access to more than 5,000 shared branches and nearly 30,000 ATMs nationwide. Member deposits are insured to $250,000 by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), a U.S. government agency. For more information about Zeal Credit Union, visit the credit union website www.ZealCreditUnion.org or call 800-321-8570.