Laurel Benjamin
Treasurer, All Souls Federal Credit Union (New York, NY)

CU Service: 20 years

I value my work with the credit union because I am committed to enabling our members to have easier access to money so that they may gain some financial control and stability in their lives. My hope is that the credit union would become a place that satisfies the financial demands of its members, and not lose its human touch.

 

Lillian Bent
Former CEO, Union Settlement Federal Credit Union (New York, NY)
Board Chairman, Bethex Federal Credit Union (Bronx, NY)

CU Service: 21 years

I value my work with the credit union because of the opportunities we have to help people move up the ladder to financial independence. Our polices and services are written in a way that makes it easier for people to learn how to manage their money; the benefits of shopping for better products, rates and fees; and hot to plan for their future. We write our policies and develop our products with our membership and their needs in mind.
 

Willie Carpenter
Manager/Treasurer, Federation of Greene County Employees (FOGCE) Federal Credit Union (Eutaw, AL)

CU Service: 33 years

I got my start inthe credit unions when I was invited by civil rights leader, Spivey Gordon, to come to the credit union’s annual meeting. After hearing of the advantages of membership and how credit unions are owned and governed by members, I decided to get involved. I value my work with the credit union because a credit union is a cooperative financial institution that is owned and controlled by its members and operated for the purpose of promoting thrift service, providing credit at competitive rates, and providing other financial services to its members.
 

Tom Connors
Board of Directors, America First Credit Union (Riverdale, UT)

CU Service: 30 years

I value my work with the credit union because credit unions "walk the walk" and "talk the talk," in terms of economic empowerment, throughout the world for all people regardless of race, religion or color. My passion is seeing others become successful through financial literacy training provided by credit unions, as a member subsequently implementing this knowledge can better his or her financial situation.
 

George Daniels
Board President, St. Mark's Federal Credit Union (New York, NY)

CU Service: 18 years

Mr. Daniels has been the Board President of St. Mark's FCU since 1994, and has a strong commitment to helping the member of his church and community establish a strong financial foundation. Mr. Daniels is a strong advocate for community development, and his service to St. Mark's FCU is the embodiment of the credit union philosophy of “people helping people.”
 

Rita L. Haynes
Former President/CEO, Faith Community United Credit Union (Cleveland, OH)

CU Service: 53 years

I value my work with the credit union because Faith Community United Credit Union provided me the opportunity to share my faith with low-income individuals and families by providing the structure to assist them in their quest for financial independence. It also allowed me to become a participant in the broader cooperative movement worldwide.
 

Marvin G. Jensen
Vice Chairman, Episcopal Community Federal Credit Union (Los Angeles, CA)

CU Service: 37 years

I volunteer for the credit union, because I believe in the credit union values of "people helping people," and especially in its commitment to community development of our community.

Melvina Johnson
Board Member, All Souls Federal Credit Union (New York, NY)

CU Service: 40 years

One of the many things I love about working with our credit union is that there was a time when people, minorities especially, could not get  money orhave access credit, especially in our area. The credit union, which is now over 50 years old, was formed to help people. I got involved because of my deep feelings for the movement and I wanted to help others. I did not anticipate my own growth; I was the one the learned so much and got so much pleasure out of seeing others learn how to save and realize what being a member of a credit union can do to help them help themselves.
 

Daniel Morrisey
Treasurer/CEO, Queen of Peace Arlington Federal Credit Union (Arlington, VA)

CU Service: 32 years

I value my work at the credit union because we enable members to "help themselves" with lower cost loans and fair returns on savings. I believe in the credit union motto: Not, For Profit, Not For Charity, But For Service". Our credit union also can and does serve members of all ages, backgrounds and economic levels.

 

James H. Parson
Treasurer/Manager, Church of the Master Federal Credit Union (New York, NY)

CU Service: 46 years

Helping people has been my passion since joining the credit union movement. In an underserved community like Harlem, one derives a great deal of satisfaction from being able to give hope to those in need. Church of The Master FCU has helped produce doctors, lawyers and other professionals in addition to the other services it provides, and I'm happy to be a part of such an origination. To me it’s a matter of "passing it on" as the saying goes.
 

Eunice Johnson Rogers
CEO/Treasurer, NRS Community Development Federal Credit Union (Birmingham, AL)

CU Service: 30 years

I value my work with the credit union because I believe that through this work, our members are provided with a vehicle by which their dollars can change hands in our community several times before leaving the area, and make a real local impact. For many of our members, this is their first opportunity to break the cycle of poverty and to achieve economic stability. Members sharing their first-hand experiences of the credit union with others has inspired others to also advance the credit union in the community, thus allowing the community itself to be a vital catalyst for positive change and posture ourselves to help others.
 

Sharon Saulters
President/CEO, Triumph Baptist Federal Credit Union (Philadelphia, PA)

CU Service: 17 years

I value my work with the credit union because the work that credit unions do is heart-warming. Credit Unions have the opportunity to help others in their time of need, and helping to save a home, or helping during a time of distress, is very rewarding. Rebuilding lives andassisting in financial empowerment is the key, and I am proud to have been a part of that through my work.
 

Shirley Inez Spruill
President, Renaissance Community Development Credit Union (Somerset, NJ)

CU Service: 40 years

I am grateful to have the opportunity to help the many individuals and families in our community. It gives me great joy to help others grow and work toward becoming self sufficient. In the words of the song "If I can help  somebody as I pass along, then my living will not be in vain". I don't view working at the credit union as a job, but rather a labor of love.