Enderby and District Credit Union’s recent AGM clearly demonstrated its ongoing support to the community with a tally of almost $30,000 committed to community groups, events and high school scholarships in 2011.
Major sponsorships were presented to two deserving community groups at the meeting – Enderby and District Community Resource Centre received $2,200, and Kingfisher Interpretive Centre received $1,000. EDCU is also fulfilling its annual financial commitment for local high school scholarships of $7,500 and has donated funds and volunteer hours to various community initiatives throughout the year.
Kingfisher is an educational and stewardship facility that has received national recognition for its work. It has established one of the most successful public involvement projects in the country dedicated to salmon, habitat restoration and related ecological education activities.
“Without financial contributions like this, it would not be possible to host spring field trips for many hundreds of school children in our area,” said Janette Clark, a director with the organization. “This year we have 36 schools booked for our spring programs and over 4,000 visitors came to our site last year.”
The resource centre has received funding from EDCU for the past eight years to support its programs and services in the Enderby area, aimed at families of children aged zero to six. The early childhood development programs include literacy, food security and parent support.
“(EDCU has) helped to create a truly community resource centre,” said Marlene Mydske, programs coordinator. “Your support of the brown bag dinner program, the survival guides, Celebrating the Early Years Fair and the food action committee have truly demonstrated your commitment to our community.”
The credit union’s scholarship program will continue with two academic achievement scholarships valued at $3,500 and $3,000. EDCU also sponsors an additional $1,000 scholarship for A.L. Fortune Secondary, awarded to a notable student achievement in an alternative area of study.
EDCU general manager Ted Morrison and chairperson Quentin Bruns acknowledged the challenging environment in which all financial institutions are operating, but underlined that through innovation, and an excellent team of management, staff and board members, EDCU can deliver the products, service and support the community needs.
“We are about more than profit and the balance sheet,” said Bruns. “We are about community and we show this by actively contributing to the success of Enderby and its surrounding communities.”
