STCU employees once again showed their passion for community service by documenting a record 12,000 hours of volunteerism over the past 12 months.
[january 4, 2024]
The volunteers included 28 employees who logged at least 80 hours of volunteerism over the past year. Scores of others exceeded the 16 hours of paid time off that every STCU employee receives annually for volunteer activities.
In response, STCU is providing a record number of year-end Volunteers Count grants, from $100 to $1,000. Those grants go to organizations where an employee reported at least 20 hours of service.
Any employee with at least 20 hours of service was invited to complete an application for a $1,000 grant on behalf of the organization they serve. The 11 recipient organizations were selected based on the employee’s passion for the cause, and the organization’s benefit to the community.
124 STCU employees earned grants to where they volunteered:
- 42 $100 grants (at least 20 hours)
- 42 $250 grants (at least 40 hours)
- 28 $500 grants (at least 80 hours)
- 12 $1,000 grants
The $40,700 in Volunteers Count grants is a small but meaningful part of the surprise donations STCU makes during its Season of Giving each December and January.
STCU employees selected for the grants said they draw deep satisfaction through their community service.
“When I work with families in need and other volunteers, it reminds me of all the good people do in our community,” said Robin Rawlings, a Community Branch Manager at STCU’s Bonner County Branch. She volunteers with Idaho Panhandle Habitat for Humanity.
Andrea Vazquez, a Member Consultant at the credit union’s Queensgate Branch, received a scholarship from the Tri-Cities’ Hispanic Academic Achievers Program in 2019. Now, she volunteers with the organization to make sure it can continue its mission.
“I want to inspire others the way HAAP inspired me,” Andrea said. “It’s all part of helping to shine a light on opportunities available to our community.”
Jennifer Sullivan volunteers with Because There is Hope, which helps with lodging, travel, and food expenses for rural cancer patients around the region. “We help patients with the stress of medical care and travel, plus provide a shoulder to lean on during difficult times,” said Jennifer, a Home Equity Loan Officer.
In all, STCU employees reported giving their time to 354 organizations across a broad swath of the Inland Northwest. They range from Priest River Animal Rescue, to Ronald McDonald House of Charities of the Inland Northwest, to PNWD National Ski Patrol in Chewelah.
Also included are at least 140 organizations where 96 STCU employees serve in leadership positions on boards or committees. They include the Spokane Airport Board, WSU Board of Regents, United Way of Benton-Franklin Counties, the West Central Community Center, LaunchNW, and the Coeur d'Alene Area Economic Development Corporation.
Earlier in 2023, STCU provided over $25,000 in additional grants to area nonprofits as part of its matching grants initiative, in which employees are able to secure up to $1,000 in matching funds for an organization where they personally donated.
While 12,000 volunteer hours and more than $65,000 in donations sounds impressive, Ezra Eckhardt, President and CEO, knows that it isn’t a full accounting of staff volunteerism. Many employees are reluctant to seek recognition for their efforts.
“Our employees have a wide variety of backgrounds, interests, and passions,” Eckhardt said “It never fails to amaze me to see how many different organizations they support.”
About STCU
STCU is a not-for-profit financial cooperative with a quarter-million members, 39 branch locations, $5.7 billion in total assets, and more than 900 employees who live our brand promise: “Here for good.”