Owner Credit Unions Team Up With PSCU For $150K In Donations

The credit union service organization (CUSO) PSCU has teamed up with owner credit unions to donate almost $150,000 to charity through the Advisors Plus “Spend and Give” campaign.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted and touched the lives of almost every credit union member, along with their family, friends and colleagues,” Glynn Frechette, senior vice president of Advisors Plus at PSCU, said in a statement on Thursday (Dec. 3).

“The credit union philosophy of ‘people helping people’ has become even more important as we navigate the impacts of the pandemic, and we will continue to put this at the forefront of all we do at PSCU,” Frechette added.

PSCU’s Advisors Plus launched the “Spend and Give” in July and August as a way to help members donate to a particular charity while also supporting small businesses. The 12 participating credit unions donated 1 percent of every purchase made by members with a CU-issued debit or credit card. In turn, PSCU matched the donations to extend almost $150,000 to 11 charities, including the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, Feeding America and local food banks.

Craig Boivin, vice president of marketing at UMassFive College Federal Credit Union in Hadley, Massachusetts, said that participating in the giving campaign “was a win-win-win for our credit union, members and neighbors.” The credit union raised $2,500 for The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts. With the match by PSCU, $5,000 was donated to the organization, which covered the cost of 20,000 meals for residents of the local community.

Holiday donations this year are especially needed as the second wave of the pandemic triggers renewed lockdowns, bringing hardship to small businesses and families. Giving Tuesday, which began in 2012 to help people struggling over the holidays, was led this year by Facebook and PetSmart. Last year, Giving Tuesday brought in $511 million for local charities.