SAINT PAUL, Minn.–CU Forward Day 2022 had a record participation, with 66 credit unions and partnering organizations with over 3,000 employees volunteering 13,000 hours across the state, according to the Minnesota Credit Union Network.
CU Forward Day – held annually on the second Monday in October, is a Minnesota state-wide initiative of credit union employees, members and partners coming together to do one simple thing – spread kindness.
Participating credit unions and partners donated and spent $300,000 to spread kindness as part of the one-day initiative, the MnCUN said.
“CU Forward Day exemplifies the cooperative principles with volunteers across Minnesota spending one day to give back to their communities in big and small ways,” said Mark Cummins, president and CEO of the MnCUN.
Acts of Volunteerism
Among the way credit unions volunteered:
- Volunteering and fundraising for local nonprofits like Second Harvest Heartland, Hands On Twin Cities, Open Arms Minnesota, Sanneh Foundation, Keystone Community Services and many more.
- Projects to support people experiencing homelessness and address food insecurity in locations across Minnesota.
- Providing lunch to first responders.
- Park and yard cleanup projects.
“Many simply performed random acts of kindness in their communities like buying coffee for strangers, grocery shopping or handing out gas cards,” the association said.
How it Began
In 2013, Saint Paul-based Affinity Plus FCU, hosted its first organization-wide “Plus It Forward Day.” A play on “pay it forward,” the Plus It Forward concept grew out of an employee-driven idea of what it meant to be a part of the community, to give back and how credit unions could randomly spread kindness, according to the MnCUN.
In a response to the growing cooperative nature of the event, the Minnesota Credit Union Network assumed the coordination of credit union participation, tracking and media efforts going forward under the umbrella name CU Forward Day starting in 2017.
Growing Across States
“Since the inception of CU Forward Day, the concept has continued to evolve with kindness days growing in states across the country. In 2019, the Illinois Credit Union League began CU Kind with credit unions in their state,” the MnCUN said. “The Michigan Credit Union League followed suit and launched CU Kind this year. In total, more than 200 credit unions participated in giving back on Monday, Oct. 10 this year.”
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