GTE Financial’s goal is to benefit the community through passionate support of local charities and initiatives that prioritize people over profits. The not-for-profit financial institution raised and donated $514,174 to local Tampa Bay charities and organizations in 2022. Donations went towards their monthly charities, yearly scholarship program, Make Hope Real campaign, and more. “At GTE Financial, we believe in ‘people helping people.’ Our core mission is to go beyond money while providing exceptional financial services,” comments Brian Best, CEO of GTE Financial. “We align with organizations that positively impact the Tampa Bay community. I am proud that throughout the year our employees and members support GTE’s philanthropic initiative and that allows us to give back every year.” Throughout the year, GTE employees rally around the chosen monthly charities and support them through fundraisers, personal contributions, and volunteerism. Feeding Tampa Bay, Best Buddies, United Way Suncoast, Boys and Girls Club, and the YMCA are just a few organizations the credit union supports. In 2022, GTE partnered with the Ukrainian Credit Union Displacement Fund and raised over $10,000 as a special philanthropic drive to directly support Ukraine’s credit union system, specifically their employees and members. In 2023, GTE will continue supporting the Tampa Bay community through several annual philanthropic initiatives. Some charities slated for assistance this year include the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay, Fighter Foundation, the American Heart Association, and more.