Mazuma Credit Union, based in Kansas City, Mo., this year willbe raising the stakes on its participation in International CreditUnion Day – this year's scheduled for Oct. 17 – and it will beturning social media outlet Facebook to do so.

The $490 million credit union is taking a literal approachto this year's ICU Day theme, “Unite for Good,” by joining forces withneighboring institutions CommunityAmerica Credit Union, United Consumers Credit Unionand Kansas City Credit Union to make a positive impact on theKansas City community.

Together, the credit unions are hosting a Facebook sweepstakesthat allows members of the general public to vote for one of threeKansas City charitable organizations to receive a $2,000donation.

Voters may choose from a recipient list that includes JuniorAchievement of Middle America, Down Syndrome Guild of Kansas Cityor Great Plains SPCA. In addition, the credit unions will selectone individual to receive $2,000 to donate to the cause of his orher choice.

“Facebook is all about connecting with a community of people whoshare similar interests,” said Andy Dickhut, Mazuma's brandmanager. “We're all interested in doing good, so turning to socialmedia for this idea was a natural fit.”

To vote, interested parties can go to any of the participatingcredit unions' official Facebook pages. Once there, users must“like” the Facebook page to be eligible to vote. They will then bedirected to the voting page, where they can select theirorganization of choice and fill out the submission form to beeligible to receive $2,000 for the cause of their choice.

To vote from a mobile device, participants can go to woobox.com/q7ycw6.

Voting began Tuesday and will continue through Oct. 17. Winnerswill be announced shortly thereafter.

ICU Day, supported by World Council of Credit Unions, is anannual holiday recognizing credit unions' contributions worldwide.It is held on the third Thursday of October each year.