The $495 million MazumaCredit Union in Kansas City, Mo., has announced the launch ofits new corporate social responsibility program.

The new program will focus on three key areas: communitydevelopment, education and the arts. To support these causes, 5% ofthe year's earnings will go toward local organizations in thesethree categories.

“We want to make a real impact on the things we value most inKansas City,” said Mazuma President/ CEO Brandon Michaels.

An innovative part of the program is an initiative called “40Hours for Good.” It allows all Mazuma team members 40 hours of paid time to volunteer in thecommunity during the year.

Similar programs in the industry average 10 to 15 hours, Mazumasaid in its announcement.

“We're serious about making our community better, so we're notjust throwing money at it, we're volunteering our time as well,”Michaels said.

The new initiative builds on Mazuma's heritage of charitableoutreach and community development, the announcement said. It alsoprovides a formal structure for Mazuma team members to more easilycontinue their self-motivated volunteer activities.

“All of us have values we passionately believe in,” Michaelssaid. “So we've created opportunities for our team members to seethose values in action.”

In addition, Mazuma has launched a new website, www.mazuma.org/happytohelp, which details themultitude of ways the credit union is contributing to the greaterKansas City-area community.

The site also includes an email address, [email protected] , where organizations cansend requests for support of their causes.

“It's all about mobilizing the 'people helping people'philosophy,” Michaels said. “It's been a part of the unofficialcredit union credo for decades and falls within our goal of makingKansasCity a happier place to live and work.”