2017 Maxwell, Herring, Desjardins National Award winners announced

CUNA’s National Awards Committee recently selected the recipients of the 2017 Dora Maxwell Social Responsibility Community Service Award, the Louise Herring Philosophy-in-Action Member Service Award, and the Desjardins Awards for Financial Education.  The awards, which are given in several credit union asset sizes, were selected among the winning entries at a league level.

First-place winners for the Dora Maxwell Award include:

• Patterson Federal Credit Union, Arkadelphia, AR
• Financial One Credit Union, Columbia Heights, MN
• Financial Center First Credit Union, Indianapolis, IN
• American Heritage Federal Credit Union, Philadelphia, PA
• Southwest Credit Union Outreach Alliance, Ohio

First-place winners for the Louise Herring Award include:

• Riverways Federal Credit Union, Rolla, MO
• Public Service Credit Union, Romulus, MI
• St. Louis Community Credit Union, Saint Louis, MO
• Hanscom Federal Credit Union, Hanscom AFB, MA

First-place winners for the Desjardins Youth Financial Education Award include:

• Clarence Community & Schools Federal Credit Union, Clarence, NY
• CORE Federal Credit Union, East Syracuse, NY
• Community Financial Credit Union, Plymouth, MI
• GESA Credit Union, Richland, WA
• Northwest Credit Union Outreach Alliance, Ohio

First-place winners for the Desjardins Adult Financial Education Award include:

• Electro Savings Credit Union, Saint Louis, MO
• Financial Center First Credit Union, Indianapolis, IN
• Patelco Credit Union, Pleasanton, CA

The Maine Credit Union League also received a first place award for their efforts to improve financial literacy for both youth and adults.

“On behalf of the CUNA Awards Committee, I would like to congratulate all of the 2017 CUNA Award winners. We had an impressive number of submissions this year and the quality of the program submissions once again impressed the committee with the ideas and projects credit unions have put in place in their communities. Please join the committee in congratulating this year’s winners and remember: It’s never too early to start thinking about submitting your own entry for 2018,” Winona Nava, CUNA Awards Committee Chair.

Winning credit unions will be recognized at CUNA’s 2018 Governmental Affairs Conference, February 25 – March 1, in Washington, DC.

Dora Maxwell – 2017 National Winners

Less than $50 Million in Assets

1^st        Patterson Federal Credit Union, Arkansas

2^nd       Sabattus Credit Union, Maine
HM      Tallahassee-Leon Federal Credit Union, Florida

$50 – 250 Million in Assets

1^st        Financial One Credit Union, Minnesota

2^nd       Cove Federal Credit Union, Kentucky
HM      West-Aircomm Federal Credit Union, Pennsylvania

$250 Million - $1 Billion in Assets
1st       Financial Center First Credit Union, Indiana

2nd     First Choice America Credit Union, West Virginia

HM      First Commerce Credit Union, Florida

More than $1 Billion
1^st        American Heritage Federal Credit Union, Pennsylvania

2^nd       BayPort Credit Union, Virginia

HM      Local Government Federal Credit Union, North Carolina

Chapter or Credit Union Group

1^st        Southwest Credit Union Outreach Alliance, Ohio

Dora Maxwell was an original signer of CUNA’s constitution and a tireless organizer of hundreds of credit unions throughout the United States. She also developed volunteer organizer clubs and worked diligently with organizations on behalf of the poor. The Maxwell Award is presented to credit unions for outstanding social responsibility projects in their communities. Activities may include: solving core community problems, coordinating supply drives for the needy, raising money or organizing special events for charitable organizations, or mentoring students.

Louise Herring – 2017 National Winners

Less than $50 Million in Assets

1^st        Riverways Federal Credit Union, Missouri

2^nd       Tallahassee-Leon Federal Credit Union, Florida

3^rd        Financial Health Federal Credit Union, Indiana

$50 – 250 Million in Assets

1^st        Public Service Credit Union, Michigan

2^nd       Health Center Credit Union, Georgia

3^rd        Electro Savings Credit Union, Missouri

$250 Million - $1 Billion in Assets
1st       St. Louis Community Credit Union, Missouri

2nd     Financial Center First Credit Union, Indiana

HM      Freedom First Credit Union, Virginia

More than $1 Billion
1^st        Hanscom Federal Credit Union, Massachusetts

2^nd       Rogue Credit Union, Oregon

HM      GESA Credit Union, Washington

Louise Herring was an original signer of CUNA’s constitution when she was an Ohio delegate to the 1934 national credit union conference in Estes Park, CO. She saw credit unions as more than just financial institutions and believed they should work to better people’s lives.  The Herring award is given to a credit union demonstrating the internal application of credit union philosophy to help better financial matters and increase financial education for its members.  Examples include: exceptional member service, financial counseling for members experiencing difficulties, and educating members on the credit union difference.

Desjardins Youth – 2017 National Winners 

Less than $50 Million in Assets

1^st        Clarence Community & Schools Federal Credit Union, New York
2^nd       Howard County Education Federal Credit Union, Maryland

HM      North Star Credit Union, Minnesota

$50 – 250 Million in Assets

1^st        CORE Federal Credit Union, New York
2^nd       Virginia Educators Credit Union, Virginia
HM      United Educators Credit Union, Minnesota

$250 Million - $1 Billion in Assets
1st       Community Financial Credit Union, Michigan

2nd     5Point Credit Union, Texas

HM      Financial Center First Credit Union, Indiana

More than $1 Billion
1^st        GESA Credit Union, Washington

2^nd       Altra Federal Credit Union, Wisconsin

HM      Robins Federal Credit Union, Georgia

Chapter or Credit Union Group
1^st        Northwest Credit Union Outreach Alliance, Ohio

Desjardins Financial Education Award - League
1^st        Maine Credit Union League

Desjardins Adult – 2017 National Winners

$50 – 250 Million in Assets  

1^st        Electro Savings Credit Union, Missouri
2nd     Fort Lee Federal Credit Union, Virginia
HM      360 Federal Credit Union,  Connecticut

$250 Million - $1 Billion in Assets
1st       Financial Center First Credit Union, Indiana

2nd     SPIRE Credit Union, Minnesota
HM      Alliance Catholic Credit Union, Michigan

More than $1 Billion
1^st        Patelco Credit Union, California

2^nd       Michigan State University Federal CU, Michigan

HM      Delta Community Credit Union, Georgia

The Desjardins Awards are named for Alphonse Desjardins, the founder of the North American credit union movement. Besides founding the first credit unions in Canada and the U.S., Desjardins pioneered youth savings clubs and in-school "banks," known as caisses scolaires. He established caisse populaires, cooperative savings and loan companies, to encourage the working classes to save and plan for the future and provided the credit they needed for economic recovery. This award honors credit unions, chapters and leagues for their commitment to both youth and adult financial literacy.