The Search for Heroes Demonstrating CU Acts of Valor for Members in Distress Posted by Association of Vermont Credit Unions on 3:04 PM

The National Cooperative Business Association (NCBA CLUSA) has created a new possibility for generating good in the world with the Honor a HERO contest. This nationwide campaign to search for a HERO provides a public venue for a cooperative or credit union employee – or the business itself – to share a compelling story about helping members/consumers in financial distress and, in turn, helping them to help themselves.

In 200 words or less, credit unions and co-ops can share their stories of how a member of their staff or the credit union itself has been a HERO to:

• an individual
• a cause in their area
• their entire community

This summertime campaign runs from June 24 to August 24, 2013. Written entries can be submitted online. Winners will be announced in early September 2013.

This campaign stems from the new HERO Counseling service, a Community Development Certified Financial Counseling (CDCFC) course certified by the NCBA CLUSA. HERO Counseling will help credit unions provide better financial guidance to their low-income communities – becoming HEROES to their members, board, and bottom line.

Check out HERO Counseling on Facebook, where stories will be posted of HEROES to help inspire others – along with announcing the winner.

The winning credit union receives HERO Counseling staff training, certification and software – from CU Strategic Planning and NCBA CLUSA for the entire credit union staff. Second and third runners-up receive HERO Counseling training for their department or branch of choice.

“This is a fantastic campaign that we are proud to launch to inspire cooperatives to act boldly and to empower consumers across our country,” says NCBA CLUSA President and CEO Mike Beall. “As the largest group of cooperatives, credit unions have an opportunity to inspire great change in their member’s lives. Co-ops and their employees do amazing work each and every day. This is a chance for these stories to be shared, for these heroes to receive recognition and to revitalize our communities. We want to highlight their stories.”

“Over the years I’ve heard many stories about credit union employees and cooperatives that are heroes,” says CU Strategic Planning Founder Jamie Chase, whose company is donating the HERO software prize valued up to $500,000. “All they have to do is share their story now. They deserved to be recognized and honored. Our company is excited to donate a very valuable prize so that their whole cooperative benefits from their heroism.”

“Credit unions’ people-first mission-based focus make them a hero every day in people’s lives, says CU Strategic Planning President Stacy Augustine “This contest just recognizes the work that credit unions do for their members and their communities on a daily basis.”