Statewide events included local receptions and fundraising efforts in support of the credit union movement

SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union, the largest credit union serving school employees and their families, celebrated the 75th anniversary of International Credit Union Day on Oct. 19 with events at four of its locations in California. Congressional and state-level elected officials and their staff members in corresponding counties for each location were invited to participate in a presentation of the credit union movement’s collaborative foundation. Also attending were representatives of local school districts and departments of education, as well as representatives of credit unions and professional organizations serving the credit union industry, including California Credit Union, First Tech Federal Credit Union, First US Community Credit Union, Kinecta Credit Union, LBS Financial Credit Union, Orange County’s Credit Union, Patelco Credit Union, Wescom Credit Union and the California Credit Union League.

SchoolsFirst FCU locations participating included:

• Tustin headquarters (Rudy Hanley Campus)

• Santa Ana branch

• Riverside Operations Center

• Sacramento Operations Center

“Each year on International Credit Union Day, we join credit unions around the world to celebrate and advocate for the credit union movement,” said Bill Cheney, chief executive officer at SchoolsFirst FCU. “International Credit Union Day helps to strengthen awareness for the credit union movement and highlights our shared values – making financial well-being accessible to people all over the world.”

As part of this year’s celebration, SchoolsFirst FCU team members joined the “Members Helping Members” fundraising campaign sponsored by the Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions, with a mission of bringing financial inclusion to millions of people around the world. SchoolsFirst FCU helped raise $15,883 toward a worldwide goal of $750,000 to benefit credit unions around the world and programs that support leadership development to ensure future generations of credit union leaders in every nation, technological and infrastructure improvements to ensure the long-term success of credit unions, and targeted disaster relief efforts such as the Ukrainian Credit Union Displacement Fund. Every dollar donated by SchoolsFirst FCU team members was matched dollar-for-dollar by SchoolsFirst FCU.

International Credit Union Day, sponsored by the Credit Union National Association (CUNA) and the World Council of Credit Unions, is recognized by credit unions around the world to raise awareness and celebrate what makes credit unions unique: a mission to bring financial inclusion and well-being to people all over the world. Since its inception in 1948, International Credit Union Day has been celebrated through outreach, volunteering, fundraising and other activities.