President's Message: People Helping People
These past few months have been challenging for our country, yet I have been encouraged each day with stories from around the country on how deeply credit unions care for members and just as importantly, the people in communities. All of the support from our credit union system is being delivered with kindness and compassion because that’s what our members and communities need now more than ever before.

Here are at your Carolinas Credit Union Foundation, we are working to deliver grant funds to our small credit unions, community non-profits, credit union members for higher education, and those in our credit union family experiencing significant financial hardship because of this pandemic. And just as importantly, we are starting a journey with our credit union partners to create real, meaningful, transformative, and sustained change against systemic oppression and racism. The CU Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Collective is an expanding group being formed within the Credit Union Movement devoted to furthering DEI, a shared cooperative principle. The CU DEI Collective has crafted a pledge to create a just society which upholds human dignity, where people are free to pursue their dreams and the Carolinas Foundation has joined a growing list of partners who have signed the pledge .

As I shared in a recent Together Tuesdays video from the National Credit Union Foundation, “People Helping People” is our daily call to action for each of us to look around and see how we can help one another and build the kind of community in which we all want to live. The time is now to eliminate the negative influences that keep people down and who better to lead the charge than credit unions.

Together, we are stronger. Your dedication to your members and communities continues to inspire me!

With a grateful heart,
Lauren Whaley

P.S. To read more about happenings around the country, don't miss "Your foundations, hard at work for CUs & members during the pandemic" by Gigi Hyland at the National Foundation. Also worth mentioning is that the National Foundation has partnered with CUNA to host the FREE eSchool  Putting Empathy in Action During a Pandemic, which consists of four highly successful sessions led by National Foundation Director of DE & Cooperative Culture Chad Helminak.
Other News from the Foundation
Hardship grants to CU employees surpass $160K
Through the Disaster Relief Fund, the Foundation is working to alleviate the financial stress of credit union employees in the Carolinas hardest hit and facing significant financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the  initial announcement of the COVID-19 Relief Grant program  in early April, the Foundation has processed well over 250 grants from credit union employees, approving funding for 196 grants totaling $161,900.

Dora, Desjardin and Herring nominations due July 31, 2020
CUNA's National Award programs are designed to encourage and recognize distinguished credit unions that demonstrate social responsibility (the Dora Maxwell Award), credit union philosophy (the Louise Herring Award), and financial education (the Desjardins Awards). All state-level winners are recognized at the Foundation's Awards Gala held at the beginning of each year.

PPE purchase options = giving back!
In coordination with the National Credit Union Foundation and other state foundations across the country, the Carolinas Foundation has partnered with Geiger to offer credit unions in the Carolinas another trusted resource for purchasing Personal Protection Equipment (PPE). The best part: Geiger will donate a portion of the sales back to the Carolinas Foundation. For details on ordering and supporting the Foundation, please click here . For PPE in smaller quantities for our small credit unions, please click here .  
Credit unions continue to give back when communities need it most
Credit unions across the Carolinas are continuing to put people first to help bring ease during these uncertain times. Through the Foundation's donor advised fund management program , credit unions are able to market this fund as its own credit union foundation and focus its efforts on supporting non-profits in local communities, while the Foundation handles grant distributions. The Foundation is honored to serve as a partner in philanthropy to many credit unions in the Carolinas and notably to: Coastal whose donor advised fund has provided more than $1M in COVID-19 response grants to date; Truliant who has provided $30k in community mini-grants; and Palmetto Citizens for its additional donations to non-profits supporting COVID relief efforts . #PeopleHelpingPeople
Carolinas Cup - mini tournament dates for October coming soon
CUNA Mutual Group’s 16 th Annual Carolinas Cup unfortunately will not be held at Pine Needles this year. This classic credit union competition must adapt to our current environment and the large group format just isn’t feasible with social distancing. Fear not, no Zoom golfing here, we are just refocusing to smaller groups at local golf courses throughout the Carolinas. And it’s still all for a great cause – Victory Junction! Stay tuned for more details on registration, sponsorship and October dates at amazing courses!
Call for auction items - we are going virtual!
The Foundation is working to implement an online auction component at this year's Carolinas Cup so ANYONE can participate and we can raise even more money for Victory Junction. We are looking for donated auction items to use at this year’s virtual auction which will go live in October. If you have an auction item you can donate to the cause, please reach out me ! Thank you in advance for your support!
$340K in scholarships awarded to CU members!
Each year from October 1st to February 1st, any credit union member or employee from a Carolina-based credit union is eligible to apply for an academic or needs-based scholarship from the Foundation. Credit unions can also have their own scholarship program managed by the Foundation, offering a turn-key approach for awarding higher education scholarships to members. This year, a combined 315 members were awarded Foundation or individual credit union scholarships totaling $340,950!

Working to support our small CUs with new grant opportunities
The Foundation is continuing to work to ensure professional development priorities are still met at each of our small credit unions. In partnership with the Carolinas Credit Union League and our funding partners at Summit Credit Union w ith the Elizabeth N. and James V. Hamilton Fund we are offering credit unions of $50 million and under in assets with partial funding for coaching packages through the League’s TalentGuided service. A total of $10,000 is allocated by the Elizabeth N. and James V. Hamilton Fund to cover grants for the TalentGuided coaching program. This is a special one-time grant opportunity and there is no submission deadline. Click here for more details and to download an application!

In early April, the Foundation also offered to small credit unions of $100 million and under in assets a grant to provide two free webinars per credit union through the  Credit Union Webinar Network – the League’s partner provider for online learning.

If you are a small credit union and have other unmet needs or ideas on how the Foundation can provide further support, please let me know .   
2020 Operational Supporters - THANK YOU!!
The Carolinas Foundation has made such a tremendous impact in our nearly 30 years of serving credit unions, employees and members. And that success is because of those that support the Foundation's operations each year. As part of the League dues process, credit unions have the option to support the the Foundation’s operations, which includes: staffing, development and travel of one full-time and three part-time employees; accounting & HR services with the League; all external legal and auditing fees; marketing support; and our technology, software and equipment. Credit union support through the League dues process, along with income from our fund management partnerships or direct, unrestricted contributions, are our only sources of operational support.

As we hit the mid-point of the year, the Foundation would like to extend its sincerest appreciation to the following operational supporters in 2020. Thank you for your continued dedication to the Carolinas Credit Union Foundation!
$25,000+
Coastal CU
Local Government FCU Sharonview FCU
State Employees’ CU

$15,000+
Allegacy FCU
Family Trust FCU
SC Federal CU
Truliant FCU

$5,000+
Carolinas Telco FCU
Charlotte Metro FCU
Members CU
Palmetto Citizens FCU
SC Telco FCU
Vizo Financial CU

$2,000+
Carolina Trust FCU
Greenville FCU
Heritage Trust FCU
Mountain CU
Premier FCU
SPC CU
Summit CU
Telco Community CU
Up to $2,000
Abbeville Community FCU
Acclaim FCU
AnMed Health FCU
Bragg Mutual FCU
Brookland FCU
Carolina Foothills FCU
Charlotte Fire Dept CU
Civic FCU
Columbia Post Office CU
CommScope CU
Edisto FCU
Emerald Credit Assn FCU
Emergency Responders CU
First Carolina People’s CU
Georgetown Kraft CU
G.H.S FCU
Greensboro Municipal FCU
Greenville Heritage FCU
Greenwood Municipal FCU
GUCO CU
Health Facilities FCU
HealthShare CU
HopeSouth FCU
HSM FCU
Lion’s Share FCU
Lithium FCU
McDowell Cornerstone CU
Mid Carolina CU
Neighbors United FCU
NOVA CU
Up to $2,000 (cont.)
Nucor Employees CU
Palmetto First FCU
Palmetto Health CU
Pee Dee FCU
Riegelwood FCU
SC State FCU
SCI FCU
S.C. H. D. DIST #7 FCU
Santee Cooper CU
Secured Advantage FCU
Shuford FCU
Team & Wheel FCU
TCP Credit Union
Upstate FCU

Other Support

Foundation Board of Directors

Marketing support from Your Marketing Co.

Accounting, HR and Communications Support from the Carolinas CU League

Payroll deduction supporters from the Carolinas CU League & Vizo Financial.
Victory Junction @ Home
In response to the spread of COVID-19, Victory Junction is developing new ways to serve kids - creating online camp experiences , making "Magic Kits" to send to kids in hospitals and Ronald McDonald Houses, strengthening bonds in diagnosis communities, and working with health partners to further its mission.

Credit unions in the Carolinas are continuing to pledge their support for Victory Junction and the Foundation has collected nearly $5,000 in donations so far in 2020 through fundraising efforts from SC State CU, Acclaim FCU and SAFE FCU. Credit union support over the last 16 years has totaled more than $5 million and we are honored to serve as one of the founding supporters to Victory Junction, among a list of other distinguished philanthropic partners (noted in the photo). Victory Junction sends along camp love, camp hugs, and high fives to all credit unions in the Carolinas!
Contact the Foundation:
Lauren Whaley, President | 919-600-8219 | E-mail |

The Carolinas Credit Union Foundation was incorporated in 1993 as a charitable organization dedicated to the embodiment of the “people helping people” philosophy of credit unions. Its mission is to empower and inspire credit unions in the Carolinas through collaborative opportunities to enrich our communities. The Foundation serves as a founding partner to Victory Junction, a year-round camping facility, located in Randleman, NC, for children with chronic medical conditions or serious illnesses. Over the last 15 years, more than $5 million has been raised by credit unions in the Carolinas to support its camp and outreach programs. The Foundation also serves as a partner in philanthropy with credit unions, assisting charitable giving through donor-advised funds, managing scholarship programs, supporting small credit unions with professional development grants, and aiding disaster relief for the local, national, and global credit union communities.