3 Virginia Credit Unions Among National Social Responsibility Award Winners

CommonWealth One Federal Credit Union, Chartway Credit Union and Virginia Credit Union captured national awards in the 2022 CUNA/Leagues Social Responsibility Awards.

Each year, Leagues select winning entries in various asset sizes for the Dora Maxwell Social Responsibility Community Service Award, Louise Herring Philosophy-in-Action Member Service Award, and Desjardins Awards for Financial Education. League winners are forwarded to the national competition. 

CommonWealth One Federal Credit Union was awarded a first-place national Desjardins Award ($250 million-$1 billion asset category) for partnering with the City of Alexandria Public School District, Harrisonburg City Public Schools and several other community groups to provide a host of financial education resources to area youth.

Among the resources it offered: “Banzai” modules, “Centsable” games and cartoons, plus "It's a Money Thing" presentations and instructional webinars, Youth Month contests, and summer reading games and programs. The CU also introduced a new "Adulting101" program for high school seniors and college students to help prepare them for their financial futures.

Chartway Credit Union has been awarded a national third-place award Dora Maxwell Award ($1 billion or more asset category). Through fundraising and charitable partnerships, the Chartway Promise Foundation brings joy, hope, and smiles to children in our communities who are facing medical hardship or illness. Chartway’s current project supports the Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters and its construction of a new pediatric mental health hospital and outpatient center to address the mental health needs of children in our region. Specifically, the Chartway Promise Foundation’s $500,000 donation is funding the development of an art therapy center where therapists will support children by providing opportunities for creative expression.

Virginia Credit Union has been awarded a third-place national Desjardins Award ($1 billion or more asset category). In 2021, the VACU financial education team taught more than 300 financial literacy presentations, reaching 12,046 students. The credit union purchased 2,880 books for families with pre-schoolers, introducing these kids to spending and saving; and created 30 new economics lessons for students in grades K-12. The CU's most valued partnership was with the City of Richmond Mayor’s Youth Academy. The MYA was launched in 2010 to develop Richmond’s future leaders and workforce, by reaching and serving youth ages 14 to 19, VACU designed 6 effective financial literacy lessons for MYA members and offered youth checking and savings accounts to all participants.

“Congratulations to our award-winning credit unions, who are being recognized for their commitment to their members and communities,” said Virginia Credit Union League President/CEO Carrie Hunt. “We celebrate their efforts to showcase the Credit Union Difference and our People Helping People philosophy in the areas of social responsibility, the credit union philosophy and financial education. Service to our members and community is what defines the credit union system.”

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