Unitus Community Credit Union Wins Two Prestigious Awards

October 24, 2023

Unitus Board Chair Matthew Mičetić, Georgia Bailey, Board Director Frank Chinn, David Fehrer, Corlinda Wooden.

Unitus Community Credit Union, based in Portland, Oregon, has been awarded two prestigious awards for its philanthropic efforts.

The credit union earned the Oregon state-level Dora Maxwell Social Responsibility Award and the Louise Herring Philosophy in Action Award at the GoWest Association’s MAXX Award Ceremony. Unitus will now be considered for the national-level awards through the Credit Union National Association (CUNA).  

The Dora Maxwell Social Responsibility Award honors credit unions for their involvement in community projects and activities. Maxwell was a community activist who committed her life to credit union development, her community, and serving the underserved. Unitus earned this prestigious award for its support of the AWARE Food Bank in Woodburn. The credit union’s support includes donating funds to assist with the rebuilding and restocking of the facility after an arson, providing funding for an outreach coordinator to deliver food to farmworkers who need assistance, and donating hundreds of rain jackets for farmworkers who work outside during the rainy season.  

“We are proud to support AWARE Food Bank and the people it serves,” said President and CEO of Unitus Community Credit Union Steven Stapp. “One in five Oregonians experiences food insecurity. No one should have to make a choice between eating and paying rent. AWARE helps fill the gap for thousands of people, so they don’t have to make that choice.” 

Unitus also earned the Louise Herring Philosophy in Action Award, which recognizes credit unions that do an extraordinary job incorporating credit union philosophy into daily operations. Herring was one of the original signers of the 1934 constitution that created CUNA. The impact Unitus has had on the Hispanic community was honored with this award. Through intentional efforts ranging from hiring more bilingual and bicultural staff to selecting inclusive community partners, Unitus is focused on reaching members of the community who have been underserved by traditional financial institutions. 

“We are truly honored to be recognized for our inclusive financial practices,” said Community Development Manager at Unitus Aimee Berg. “From providing loans to members with an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number to dedicating 30% of our giving funds to communities of color, Unitus is making a positive impact in our Hispanic and immigrant communities.” 

For the past 12 years, Unitus has been named a “Top 10 Corporate Philanthropist” in the Portland metro area by the Portland Business Journal.

Posted in Oregon, Regional Member News.