The year 2020 began with a full calendar of community engagement that DFCU Financial had scheduled to participate in. While things had to change a bit, the credit union is proud to have made significant contributions to organizations which impacted at-home learning, enhanced community offerings and celebrated our essential workers. Here is a look back at 2020 and the good that can be done when we all work together.
January
The rain didn't dampen the spirits of DFCU Loan Officer Denise Staffeld and Branch Manager David Ryall at the opening of the Plymouth Ice Festival, sponsored by DFCU Financial and other community partners.
February
DFCU HR and Public Relations professionals participated in the Academies of Dearborn Employability Task Force.
Mardi Gras, the annual fundraiser for the Dearborn Education Foundation, supports teacher grants for educational resources not funded through the general school district budget. This year the event raised $25,000 for the foundation!
Carley Dunphey, head teacher for Commerce School in Walled Lake, had the following to say after being presented with a grant for social emotional learning kits. "These kits help to equip teachers with the tools to help them manage the emotional highs and lows of our students.”
Denise Dunn, Board of Education delegate to the Walled Lake Education Foundation and DFCU member said, "I love that my credit union is so involved in our schools. It's so important and financial literacy is so critical to future success. Thank you, DFCU."
March
DFCU employees stepped up and made a positive impact for lung health by participating in a Fight For Air Climb event, March 1, in the Ally Detroit Center, the 2nd tallest building in Michigan. Participants climbed 42 flights and went down 41 floors for a total of 1,768 steps. The event raised nearly $300,000 to benefit the American Lung Association.
April DFCU Financial is a proud sponsor of Henry Ford’s Game On Cancer Kid's Club. In April, Game on Cancer delivered to 125 families throughout Michigan and will be delivering three breakfasts, three lunches and three dinners twice a week for their most vulnerable, home-bound cancer patients and their families.
To enhance at-home learning, DFCU Financial sponsored Dearborn's Big Read, a National Endowment of the Arts program which encourages community-wide reading.
May
Through our sponsorship to the Taylor Public Schools Foundation for Educational Excellence, Taylor Robotics team TNT 285 was able to create and donate 400 ear savers for masks so healthcare workers don't get cuts behind their ears. These were made with superhero designs on the 3D printer that DFCU helped purchase.
June
Summer sun shone on more than 170 classic cars whose drivers showed up to participate and offer community support of our health care workers and first responders at our first classic car parade from our Oakwood Beech branch. The cars drove past Beaumont Hospital to show pride in these essential workers (and give out free ice cream too).
July
The Henry Ford hosted weekly family challenges highlighting some interesting pieces of history on display at the village and museum. And as membership sponsor for The Henry Ford, DFCU Financial gave away $25 Amazon gifts card to two lucky participants each week!
August
What a year to start Kindergarten! DFCU made it fun and memorable with a sponsorship of the Birmingham Education Foundation which provided "welcome kits" including a "Groves/Seaholm Class of 2033" shirt, a fun yard sign, a calendar magnet and a packet of other helpful info.
September
Three years ago, with a donation from DFCU Financial, the Novi Educational Foundation (NEF) helped fund a garden at Parkview and Deerfield Elementary Schools. Every year since, students from these schools spend time weeding, planting, watering and picking fruits and vegetables. In late summer the gardens are harvested and the "fruits and vegetables of their labors" are given to the Feed the Need program in Novi.
October
Throughout the pandemic, Children’s Literacy Network continued to work with schools and other partner organizations to address the literacy needs of at-risk children in Washtenaw County.
Thanks to their staff, volunteers, and community partners, more than 800 literacy bags (with over 2,000 books) were compiled, delivered to facilities, and distributed to families.
November
As part of its commitment to Detroit and surrounding neighborhoods, DFCU Financial was proud to donate $10,000 to the Detroit Public Schools Foundation. The grant will be used for an initiative run through EcoWorks, a Detroit-based sustainable development non-profit, that helps neighborhood groups carry out local sustainability projects.
December
This year, because of COVID-19, it was crucial that students have their own materials and are not sharing items. Therefore, the Chippewa Valley Educational Foundation supported learning through a purchase of individual whiteboards for elementary students, and math manipulatives that help children visualize math concepts.
The holiday season of 2020 was the 50th year of making Christmas wishes come true for foster care children in Michigan on behalf of Operation Good Cheer. This year, DFCU staff adopted 50 children and purchased and wrapped gifts from each child's wish list, providing them with gifts and the joy of knowing there are people who care.