“People helping people” is the core principle of the credit union movement. To me, supporting our members requires showing up in our communities, listening to real stories and rolling up our sleeves to make a difference. At Affinity, our responsibility to members extends well beyond financial services. We invest in their communities in many ways: Providing direct financial support through our foundation, volunteering time toward financial education opportunities, and participating with local events and organizations.
Leading by Example
As a leader at Affinity, in-person events form the cornerstone of my community engagement. When I lead by example and show up for our mission, my team embraces it even more strongly.Why? Because presence matters. It demonstrates to my colleagues and our members that community engagement isn’t a side activity, but who we are.
Local events give me valuable time with the amazing team members I work alongside. Hearing their perspectives helps me grow as a leader. In addition, events show me how each member community has unique strengths and needs. Being there in person helps me understand those nuances and make better decisions about the products, services and outreach Affinity provides.
Listening First
We have strong data that tells us what members want and need, but there’s no substitute for hearing directly from them. When I’m in the community, I get to listen to stories about how Affinity has made a difference in someone’s life, and sometimes about where we’ve fallen short.
I treasure those moments because they deepen trust. When members share their experiences with Affinity, both helpful and challenging, it gives us the chance to improve. We don’t shy away from hearing about pain points. Instead, we see them as opportunities to correct root issues and serve members even better.
Turning Need Into Action
One area where this initiative shows up is our Foundation’s member relief grants. A request for help doesn’t end with a grant check; it sparks a deeper look at why a member is struggling. If food insecurity is the issue, that may lead us to organize more food drives. If families need school supplies or holiday support, we step up to fill the gap.
This year, because food insecurity continues to weigh on our communities, our organization committed to making 5,000 lunches. For us, this isn’t about one-off giving. It’s about showing up consistently, with care and purpose, in ways that make a real impact.
Creating a Culture of Service
As leaders, our actions set the tone. By making ourselves visible in the community, I hope to show my team that service isn’t optional, but integral to who we are. That visibility has helped cultivate a culture at Affinity where giving back is central to everyday action.
We provide volunteer hours, recognize employees who get involved, and create multiple opportunities for our team to support local causes. And we share their stories so everyone can see the difference they’re making. Our goal is building pride in the impact we can make, one person and one community at a time.
Ninety Years Strong
This year marks Affinity’s 90th anniversary, and I see that milestone as a testament to the trust our members place in us. Maintaining financial strength has always been important because it allows us to return more value to our members and support our communities with confidence. For me, service and strong business practices aren’t competing priorities; they’re two sides of the same coin. As I reflect on where we’ve been and where we’re going, one thing remains clear: Affinity will always be about people helping people. That’s our past, our present and our future.
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