Pictured from left to right in the KZST studio in Santa Rosa, Calif., calling on the community to fulfill the remaining wishes in the Sonoma County Secret Santa program on Dec. 20: Bill Friedman of Friedman’s Home Improvement, Center for Volunteer & Nonprofit Leadership CEO Linda Jacobs, Redwood CU President/CEO Brett Martinez and KZST’s Mike Adams. (Credit/Redwood CU)
Every year as the holiday season approaches, credit unions find new ways to give back to their communities. Here are a few examples of how credit unions nationwide gave people and organizations in need a reason to be thankful as 2024 draws to a close.
SECU Foundation, the charitable arm of the $57.2 billion, Raleigh, N.C.-based SECU, said its Board of Directors approved a phase two disaster relief package to build upon a $3.75 million relief package announced in October to help expedite provisions of water, food, supplies, shelter and other emergency services to Western North Carolina following Hurricane Helene. Phase two included a $1 million grant for Baptists on Mission to support its Essential Rapid Repairs program, a $500,000 grant for the Salvation Army of the Carolinas to help ensure the organization can provide financial aid to impacted families, and a $250,000 grant for MANNA Food Bank to fund a six-month produce distribution pilot program that expands access to fresh fruits and vegetables for affected communities.
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Natasha Chilingerian
Natasha Chilingerian has been immersed in the credit union industry for over a decade. She first joined CU Times in 2011 as a freelance writer, and following a two-year hiatus from 2013-2015, during which time she served as a communications specialist for Xceed Financial Credit Union (now Kinecta Federal Credit Union), she re-joined the CU Times team full-time as managing editor. She was promoted to executive editor in 2019. In the earlier days of her career, Chilingerian focused on news and lifestyle journalism, serving as a writer and editor for numerous regional publications in Oregon, Louisiana, South Carolina and the San Francisco Bay Area. In addition, she holds experience in marketing copywriting for companies in the finance and technology space. At CU Times, she covers People and Community news, cybersecurity, fintech partnerships, marketing, workplace culture, leadership, DEI, branch strategies, digital banking and more. She currently works remotely and splits her time between Southern California and Portland, Ore.
