Lizeth GeorgeThe Southeastern Credit Union Foundation (SECUF) was thrilled to celebrate a successful 2021. Among the many successes was the Enrich Credit Union Employee Financial Wellness Program, the FiCEP Program, the Professional Development Grants Program, and the help provided through the Disaster Relief Fund.
The Enrich Credit Union Employee Financial Wellness program concluded in 2021 with more than 500 registered participants from 70 credit unions spanning across the SECUF’s three state footprint of Alabama, Florida, and Georgia. The Program was created in 2020 to support credit unions by providing financial educational resources to employees in hopes that these resources would implement positive, financial change. These resources helped employees create better financial plans for their future, which in turn, fostered a healthier work environment. This tool was made available to all League of Southeastern Credit Unions & Affiliates (LSCU & Affiliates) members and was provided at no cost at all to affiliated credit unions.
The FiCEP Program was created due to a partnership with the Credit Union National Association (CUNA) and the Louisiana Credit Union League. This program offers credit union staff a unique, financial counseling training program which combines self-study learning with hands-on experience. Individuals who successfully complete this program and exam are awarded a Certified Credit Union Financial Counselor (CCUFC) designation. In 2021, the SECUF had 89 participants successfully complete the FiCEP Program, earning their CCUFC designation.
In 2021, SECUF awarded more than $21,000 in professional development grants to credit union CEOs, employees, board members, and supervisory committee members to attend LSCU & Affiliates and CUNA educational events. The Professional Development Grants Program is designed for smaller asset size credit unions and credit unions undergoing financial hardships. The grants typically cover tuition or registration fees and, in some instances, may also cover a portion of travel costs. Professional development grants are awarded to individuals who best exemplify the credit union philosophy, and whose attendance at approved programs would be beneficial in the expansion of credit union goals and ideas.
SECUF was also able to provide financial support to areas in need following various tragedies that occurred in 2021, including the Surfside Building Collapse in Miami, Florida, Hurricane Ida in Louisiana, support for employees affected by flooding in Alabama, and the Kentucky Tornado Relief. These efforts resulted in more than $36,000 donated to disaster relief funds in the southeast.
With the success of 2021, SECUF looks forward to 2022 with the implementation of the Community Sparks Program, a program designed to address an overlying development issue within local communities in Alabama, Florida, and Georgia. SECUF plans to collaborate with credit unions to create and implement programs to better address a need in their communities. The goal of the Community Sparks Program is to continue the credit union philosophy of “People Helping People” by providing meaningful change in our local communities.
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