Credit union staffers volunteer, donate food and raise money

Community Choice Credit Union recently held its fourth annual Give Big Weekend, a two-day event dedicated to community service, featuring more than 100 Community Choice Credit Union team members at a variety of sites.
Autumn Tarquinio, human resources manager at Community Choice Credit Union, said she was grateful that the Credit Union provides a platform for all team members to help local communities. “I am proud to be part of an organization where every team member receives 24 hours of paid volunteer time annually to encourage community service,” Tarquinio said. “The Credit Union is so strongly committed to improving our local communities, that it puts its money behind its charitable focus.”
Tarquinio was the group leader for the Credit Union's Step Out| Walk to Stop Diabetes team. Tarquinio was joined on Sept. 15 at The Detroit Zoo by 179 of the Credit Union's team members, family and friends. In total, the event overall raised more than $450,000 for the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and was supported by more than 3,000 participants.
In addition to the charitable efforts to support the ADA, Community Choice Credit Union supported four other local causes and organizations. Because of the Credit Union's Give Big Weekend, Gleaners Food Bank received 412 pounds of food from the Credit Union. Those food donations will create approximately 309 meals to feed the hungry.
“Give Big Weekend is all about uniting as one to support charitable causes,” said Robert Bava, president and CEO. “When Team Members at Community Choice engage with our local communities, we know the sum of what we can achieve is far greater than what we can achieve as individuals.”
While the Credit Union supported Southeast Michigan by participating in a variety of charitable projects over Give Big Weekend, the Credit Union's focus is to enrich local communities throughout the entire year. That's why, officials say, Community Choice Credit Union introduced its volunteer reimbursement program in 2005 and continues to see the benefits of offering the program.
“Team members are excited when they learn they have the backing of the Credit Union to make a difference in local communities,” said Jennifer Dickey, vice president of Human Resources at Community Choice Credit Union. “When you tell them (team members) that we are also going to pay them for their community service, a giant smile usually cracks across their face. It's a wonderful program and team members' love the idea of getting rewarded for doing good.”