November 10, 2021 – Acclaim FCU Press Release
Greensboro, NC – The Carolina’s Credit Union Foundation has selected Acclaim Federal Credit Union as First Place winner in the $50 – $250 million dollar asset category for the 2021 Dora Maxwell Social Responsibility Community Service Award in the Carolinas. Acclaim then goes on to the Credit Union National Association’s (CUNA) national competition and wins Second Place in the nation in their asset category. “The passion and dedication your credit union put into this project truly inspired us as we reviewed your submission earlier this year!” says Jeff Hardin, CUDE, Director of Collaborative Programs at Carolina’s Credit Union Foundation.
The Dora Maxwell Social Responsibility Community Service Award is given to a credit union or chapter/multiple credit union group for its social responsibility projects within the community. The award is given for external activities. Concern for community is one of the credit union movement’s founding principles and this credit union’s actions exemplified this philosophy.
Acclaim FCU received recognition for their volunteer contributions to the non-profit organization, Restoration Place Counseling (RPC). Restoration Place Counseling is a non-profit organization that provides significantly discounted professional counseling services to girls, women, and couples helping them to restore dignity and virtue. As part of Acclaim’s community involvement commitment, they partnered with Restoration Place Counseling in 2019 and, in 2020, deepened their commitment by sponsoring various events and dedicating volunteer hours to bring awareness for mental wellness and to help raise money enabling them to offer mental health services to a greater number of individuals. Their social commitment involvement included sponsoring, raising money for, and participating in the May the Course 5K, a Star-Wars themed annual charity run benefiting RPC as well as their annual Restoration Runway event. Acclaim also began donating a portion of their Skip-a-Pay for Charity program fees to RPC. In addition, they lowered membership par share amounts while enacting a one-time membership fee that is donated to Restoration Place Counseling. This change allowed more affordable credit union membership opportunities to the community while creating another avenue to continue to support Restoration Place Counseling.
“We felt like with everything our community has had to endure during the pandemic, it was necessary to educate our members and community of the importance of mental wellness, not just financial wellness.” said Valerie Marsh, CEO/President of Acclaim Federal Credit Union. She goes on to say, “We not only met, but exceeded our donation goal allowing us to provide an entire month’s mental health services to over 24 individuals. It is truly an honor to be recognized for our efforts.”
Acclaim Federal Credit Union is a not-for-profit financial cooperative owned by its members. Established in 1972, they are a $56 million dollar credit union serving over 6,000 members in communities primarily based in the triad North Carolina area but extend to many other states across the United States.
