Business View Magazine June 2023

125 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 10, ISSUE 3 DANNEMORA FEDERAL CREDI T UNION Without the credit union model, that scenario would not have been possible, and the member may not have been able to stay in her home. Community Focused One of the hallmarks of DFCU within the local community is how the organization and its employees are involved with community organizations. This includes both volunteering and financial support. Since DFCU is not a huge credit union, it may not be able to help support every charitable organization in the area with dollars, but it gives back more than many large financial institutions in the area, Hay says. DFCU recently committed its largest financial donation in the credit union’s history with a $350,000 pledge to support the renovation of a local YMCA facility, Hay says. He sees many similarities between the two organizations with a focus on members, flexibility, and local community. “It’s one of the reasons we made that commitment,” Hay says. DFCU has supported several veterans’ charities with volunteer support and financial donations anywhere from $10,000 to $20,000 annually over the years. Employees also can take part in Jeans Day one Friday a month where a $5 minimum donation allows them to wear jeans to the office. DFCU matches all donations, which usually raise a few hundred dollars each month for a variety of organizations ranging from the United Way to a local organization that provides therapeutic pets for individuals with disabilities. Additionally, DFCU has been giving away ten $1,000 college scholarships for several consecutive years. The credit union updated its total giving to $15,000 in 2023, offering both $2,000 and $1,000 scholarships. Says Hay, “The hope is that it helps to make college a little more affordable. It’s just so darn expensive right now that every (scholarship) helps.” The credit union’s commitment to financial literacy remains strong as shown by one of its partners. Banzai is an award-winning,