AUBURN HILLS, Mich.–Genysis Credit Union has won a national-level, first pace award in CUNA’s 2022 Dora Maxwell Social Responsibility Community Service Awards for its outstanding social responsibility projects in their communities.
Genisys CU received the accolade in light of its efforts with Pontiac-based non-profit Lighthouse. Lighthouse has a mission to build equitable communities that alleviate poverty. In 2021, the two organizations furthered their partnership with a comprehensive campaign called “One Kitchen, Unlimited Reach: Eliminating Homelessness with Genisys Credit Union & Lighthouse.”
With this campaign, the credit union team donated $60,000 to renovate the commercial kitchen at Lighthouse, which hadn’t been used in over 10 years; volunteered over 140 hours to transition a building on their campus into a family emergency shelter, and hosted a company-wide employee campaign to stock the kitchen, raising over $8,000.
“Our goals for this project were rooted in advancing the mission of Lighthouse. Throughout the campaign, the credit union team came together to do good, in big ways. I want to thank each team member who made this campaign possible and successful,” said Jackie Buchanan, president and CEO of Genisys Credit Union. “Receiving recognition as a nationwide leader in corporate social responsibility within the credit union movement is an awe-inspiring nod that we are honored to have received.”
The credit union followed up the campaign with an Open House & Fundraiser in October at Lighthouse’s headquarters that aimed to raise awareness and additional funds around the commercial kitchen renovation.
"We at Lighthouse are truly grateful for our multifaceted partnership with our friends at Genisys Credit Union. In addition to their very generous contribution to our kitchen project, Genisys staff have volunteered countless hours with our organization in a wide variety of areas,” said Ryan Hertz, president and CEO of Lighthouse. “Genisys's support of our mission to build equitable communities that alleviate poverty, in addition to the direct impact of their own work, is a testament to their team's strong commitment to social responsibility.”