Hurricane Helene Grants for CU Employees

We continue to keep all of those impacted by Hurricane Helene in our thoughts as efforts are still underway to locate the missing and restore lines of communications, electricity and water across the Carolinas. We know the road to recovery will be long for many people in our two states.

The Carolinas Credit Union Foundation is supporting the needs of credit unions and their employees through our Disaster Relief Fund, which was activated on Monday in coordination efforts with the Carolinas Credit Union League.

As reported with the surge in collective relief efforts, more than $370,000 in individual and corporate donations/pledges have been received by the Carolinas Credit Union Foundation since Monday.

As of this morning, the Foundation has disbursed $120,000 in grants to help 118 credit union employees across the Carolinas meet immediate needs such as food and temporary shelter, as many are displaced with no electricity or access to water. Helene’s damage to employees’ homes is also significant, with downed trees and flooding. Several employees have lost everything. We anticipate the needs from credit union employees to only increase as communication access is restored, particularly in Western, NC.

A new online application has been created to enhance efficiencies for the Foundation, applicants, and credit unions assisting their employees. Access to a fillable PDF will remain as handwritten applications are still being circulated in areas with remote access. For any questions, please contact Lauren Whaley.

Foundation Launches New Resources

On behalf of TruStage, the Carolinas Credit Union Foundation and our event captains & volunteers, we send our sincerest thanks to our many sponsors and participants of the 20th Carolinas Cup. All event proceeds support Victory Junction who provides life-changing camp experiences to children with serious illnesses, at no cost to children or their families. We raised over $75,000 at the auction with our final Victory Junction donation total to be announced very soon. North Carolina wins again!

Reminder: CUDEs launch fundraiser to support its scholarship fund

The Carolinas Credit Union Foundation and the Carolinas CUDE Network are rolling out t-shirts and sweatshirts to raise dollars for the Carolinas CUDE Scholarship Fund. The designs feature the credit union industry’s unique and iconic umbrella man logo with our motto “not for profit but for service” as well as logo branding on the back for the Principles & Philosophy Conference’s collaborative partners. Orders must be placed by Friday, October 4.

The Carolinas CUDE Scholarship is open for applications now through Friday, November 1 and provides opportunities for credit union staff who previously attended the Principles & Philosophy Conference to attend the National Credit Union Foundation's CUDE™ training each year. 

Read more here >>

Calling All CU Members: Academic & Needs-Based Scholarship Portal Ppened October 1

Every year, the Foundation and its credit union partners award scholarships for higher education. These include scholarships based on academic achievement, community involvement and leadership, as well as financial need. In 2024, the Foundation awarded $601,000 in scholarships to 311 credit union members pursuing higher education.

Scholarships are available to any Carolinas credit union member for undergraduate, graduate and post-graduate level studies as well as adults who are making a career change. Applications for scholarships for the 2025 – 2026 school year will be accepted from October 1 – February 2, 2025. For more information about the Foundation’s scholarship opportunities, visit the Foundation's Scholarship Resource Center.