Zeal Credit Union Honors Hard Working Volunteers in Community

Livonia, MI (April 16, 2018) – How many people do you know who deserve recognition for their long hours of hard work or free time spent volunteering to help others? This question was the driving force behind Zeal Credit Union’s decision to create the Hard Working Spirit Awards to celebrate people who go the extra mile.

This is the second year that Zeal Credit Union invited online nominations in nine different categories to recognize and reward people for their hard work and accomplishments.

“We received nearly 300 heartfelt and very moving nominations from family members, friends and co-workers. Members and non-members were also able to self-nominate,” said Bryan Feldpausch, marketing coordinator for Zeal Credit Union. “It was very difficult to narrow down our selection to nine recipients.”

Honored at Zeal Credit Union’s 63rd Annual Membership Meeting at the Dearborn Inn in March, this year’s winners in nine categories include:

Civil Service—David Zarek, Livonia

Community Superstar—Jennifer Wakenell, Livonia

Medical—Susan Beebe, Livonia

Office Worker—LaJanis Allen, Taylor

Service Industry—Stephanie Booth, Garden City

Skilled Trades—Wesley Kasperski, Allen Park

Education—Aminah Steele, Southfield

Unsung Hero—Ron Sheeler, Southgate

Hardest Working Member—Dawn Corey, Garden City

During the annual meeting, which was attended by the credit union’s volunteer board of directors, hard working staff and members, winners in eight of the categories were presented with award plaques and $100 in cash.

Zeal CEO Tony Carnarvon made the presentation to Dawn Corey, winner of the top category of Hardest Working Member, who received a check for $1,000, an award plaque and large bouquet of flowers.

Corey was recognized for helping Garden City High School with all of its theater costuming and organized a “Prom Dress Sale” for students with donated gowns. She also founded “Angels Above Baby Gowns,” a Michigan nonprofit organization to provide burial gowns for infants and small children. The gowns are made from donations of wedding gowns and distributed to 83 hospitals and emergency rooms in Michigan. Her home is frequently open to volunteers who work together to provide this service and to grieving families when they need to get a burial gown and blanket.

“Having the opportunity to meet and visit with these special winners was as much an honor for those of us who celebrated them receiving the awards,” added Feldpausch.

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.

Photo above right: The nine Hard Working Spirit Award winners honored at Zeal Credit Union’s annual meeting include, from l. to right, Wesley Kasperski, Jennifer Wakenell, Susan Beebe, Stephanie Booth, Dawn Corey, David Zarek, LaJanis Allen, Aminah Steele and Ron Sheeler.

Photo above left:  Dawn Corey, recognized by Zeal Credit Union as the Hardest Working Member, proudly displays her award.