GoWest Awards 2025: Celebrating Cooperation in Action Finalists

Posted by Alyse Knudsen on September 3, 2025

The countdown is on — just six weeks until the GoWest Awards Dinner & Gala at MAXX 2025! On Oct. 16 at the Hyatt Regency in Portland, we’ll gather to honor the outstanding credit unions and leaders making a lasting difference for their members, employees, and communities.

Each year, the GoWest Awards celebrate excellence across eight categories, shining a spotlight on both visionary individuals and groundbreaking initiatives: Employee Experience, Member Program, Community Impact, Cooperation in Action, Young Professional, Distinguished Director, Summit Advocate, and Summit Icon.

This week, we are proud to highlight the finalists in the Cooperation in Action category. This award recognizes two or more credit unions, credit union communities, or professionals from separate credit unions collaborating to create a bigger impact.

Congratulations to the finalists in the Cooperation in Action category!

BECU, Salal Credit Union, Sound Credit Union, Verity Credit Union, WSECU

In 2021, these five Washington credit unions came together in support of the Seattle Foundation’s creation of the Evergreen Impact Housing Fund (EIHF) — their solution to help fill funding gaps in affordable housing developments. EIHF’s first project was called Solera, located in Renton, Wash.

The final funding call and grand opening happened in Q2 of 2025 with participating credit unions providing 227 affordable units that will provide housing for working families who can’t afford the region’s rising rents.

Central Willamette Credit Union, Columbia Credit Union, Fibre Federal Credit Union,  First Tech Federal Credit Union, Forrit Credit Union, InRoads Credit Union, iQ Credit Union, OnPoint Community Credit Union, Oregon State Credit Union, Red Canoe Credit Union, Rivermark Community Credit Union, Unitus Community Credit Union

12 credit unions supporting the Credit Unions for Kids (CU4Kids) and Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) Hospitals collaborate to aid individuals in overcoming obstacles, fostering collective strength in their joint footprint, and where their employees live and work.

For 25 years, the CU4Kids Northwest Classic golf tournament has been one of the largest credit union-sponsored events supporting CMN Hospitals. The success of these tournaments, a result of the collective efforts of these credit unions, is a source of accomplishment, having raised more than $15.2 million at the tournament since its inception in 2000.

From June 1 to June 30, 2025, the 12 credit unions will also launch a new initiative to expand the CU4Kids campaign via a pop-up on their online banking platforms. This initiative allows more than 1 million members from the 12 credit unions to donate directly to CU4Kids. These donations will be instrumental in funding critical pediatric cancer research, life-saving treatments, financial assistance for families in need, and improving care for patients supported by CMN Hospitals.

SnoCope Credit Union, NW Plus Credit Union, Community Healthcare Federal Credit Union, Mill Town Credit Union, MountainCrest Credit Union, Nordstrom Federal Credit Union

What began as a modest donation from SnoCope Credit Union in 2018 evolved into a powerful coalition of compassion when Everett, Wash-based credit unions teamed up to support Dawson Place Child Advocacy Center — an organization dedicated to healing and justice for Snohomish County’s most vulnerable children and teens dealing with physical and sexual abuse.

Throughout April 2025, these six credit unions engaged their members, the public, and the media in:

• Collecting wishlist supplies (hygiene kits, blankets, and other necessary child-centered products)
• Gathering monetary donations at every branch
• Sharing the cause via social media — expanding reach beyond Washington, resulting in financial donations from Arizona, Hawaii, and three other states.

The effort resulted in $10,200 raised in cash donations ($8,000 more than in 2024), approximately $7,800 in supplies donated (double previous contributions), and 12+ new monthly donors secured, sustaining long-term support.

Winners in all categories will be announced at the GoWest Awards Dinner & Gala on Thursday, Oct. 16 at the Hyatt Regency Portland.

Register for MAXX 2025 today and get ready to celebrate!

Posted in Events, MAXX, Top Headlines.