Photo left to right: David Green & Cheryl Alexander, Our Place Director of Communications Grant McKenzie, Victoria Branch Manager Kiyoko Shimizu-Forbes and Member Services Representative Ala

Our Place Society Wins CSCU's Community Challenge

January 8, 2020

Community Savings Credit Union is pleased to announce that Our Place Society was the winner of the $7500 Community Challenge. The Community Challenge ran from November 14 to December 6, 2019, as six local organizations vied for the $7500 grand prize. The winner was determined by the highest number of online votes and in-branch ballots. Our Place Society received 2377 of the 4625 total votes.

To make the story even better for Our Place Society supporters, David Green & Cheryl Alexander committed to matching the Community Savings grand prize donation if Our Place Society won the $7500 Community challenge. In total, Our Place Society received $15,000 in donations.

"This wonderful challenge by Community Savings invoked a groundswell crowd-funding campaign and a match by a local business leader. This $15,000 will fund the supplies and coordination of 60 community programs offered on-site at Our Place. An aboriginal healing circle, pet therapy dog visits, computer tutoring, foot care, dental hygiene, a knitting group, and a seniors club are a sampling of the programs available which help people move from a meal to a sense of belonging. Some may also transition to the Next Steps to Employment program or the New Roads Therapeutic Recovery Community. Like Community Savings, Our Place Society offers a helpful hand to people when they need it most," added Marg Rose, Our Place Director of Philanthropy.

Six organizations were nominated by the CSCU branches to represent their local community. These organizations perform amazing work and provide invaluable services to our communities. While they did not win the grand prize, Community Savings donated $750 to each of the five organizations to help support their causes.

The participating organizations in the Community Challenge were:

• The Burnaby Firefighters Charitable Society
• Collingwood Neighbourhood House 
• Lookout Housing + Health Society
• Our Place Society
• The Port Coquitlam Professional Firefighters Charitable Society
• Surrey Women's Centre

The Community Challenge's main goal was to engage the public and create awareness for the local organizations and recognize their valuable contributions to the community. The Community Challenge was a success due to the high level of social media engagements created by participating organizations, resulting in people voting for and supporting their local community organizations. In total, $11,250 was donated to local community programs.

About Community Savings 

Community Savings Credit Union is BC's largest fully unionized credit union and is dedicated to being the credit union of choice within the working community. At Community Savings Credit Union, we are known for providing exceptional service to each member, and our passion lies in empowering our members to achieve their financial goals. Being member owned and operated, Community Savings invests in communities by supporting local charities and non-profit organizations to help create stronger and more vibrant communities.

For more information, visit:

www.comsavings.com

Ed Sue
Manager, Marketing
Community Savings Credit Union
Tel: 604-637-5009