During the holiday season, giving back is at the top of many credit unions’ priority lists. That includes Addition Financial Credit Union ($2.9 billion, Lake Mary, Fla.), which launched the Addition Financial Foundation in 2022 and appointed Cristina Lehman as its first-ever Executive Director. 

Lehman, who has been with Addition Financial since 2019 and also serves as Director of PR, brings a background in communications and education, giving her a unique perspective as she shapes the credit union’s corporate giving strategy. In this episode of "Shared Accounts With CU Times", she shares the Addition Financial Foundation’s goals as well as her thoughtful approach to community impact work, which is something she hopes can be replicated by other credit unions. And be sure to stick around for the final minutes of the interview, which includes a conversation about Lehman’s work as a reality TV production associate in the aughts and her family’s holiday eggnog tradition! 
Get your tissues handy, because this episode won’t only make you laugh – Lehman's stories of the real-world impact the credit union is making in Central Florida communities may make you shed a tear. 

Want to hear more from Lehman? Check out Addition Financial's podcast, "Making It Count", which she hosts. Some of Lehman’s favorite episodes include a three-part “Money + Fun” series on Setting an Itinerary for Savings, Saving for a Staycation and Going Abroad without Breaking the Bank; Thrift It Up and Master the Art of Budget-Friendly Finds, Ponzi, Pyramids & MLMs… Oh My! and Buying a Home for the First Time.