Contact: Patrick Harris
Director of Media Relations
Ohio Credit Union League
800-486-2917 or 614-336-2894, ext. 212
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
2011 OCUF Grants Emphasize CU Philosophy, Strengthen Leadership
67 grants total nearly $200,000 in credit union support in 2011
Columbus, Ohio (January 25, 2012) Thanks to the generosity of many credit unions, individuals, chapters, and
business partners, the Ohio Credit Union Foundation (OCUF) awarded 67 grants in 2011, totaling more than
$197,000, to assist credit unions, communities, and individuals across Ohio.
Notable OCUF grants in 2011 included more than $97,000 for reality day events, classroom visits, and two
student-run credit unions that serve more than 6,000 high school students. A total of $35,000 in disaster
relief was granted to help credit unions, their members, and communities in the U.S. and worldwide in the wake
of six catastrophes. In addition, 43 professional development grants and three memorial scholarships totaling
more than $50,000 was granted to strengthen leadership, credit union advocacy, and job expertise.
“The need for grants last year was greater than ever,” said Becky Hart, OCUF Executive Director. “The 2011
grantmaking budget was nearly depleted by the end of September and the Foundation Board of Trustees
approved allocating money from its endowment fund to meet the increased demand, allowing OCUF to further
help credit unions meet their training, outreach, and financial education needs.”
For 2012, the Board of Trustees established a $200,000 fundraising goal and the Foundation has $234,000 to
grant this calendar year.
Also in 2011, OCUF partnered with the National Credit Union Foundation and Corporate One Federal Credit
Union to create a renewed and re-energized Community Investment Fund (CIF) option. The new CIF gives
credit unions a unique vehicle to support financial education, professional development, community outreach,
and disaster relief initiatives in Ohio and across the country. The Corporate One CIF option offers credit unions
the ability to choose products such as callable and bullet U.S. Government agency securities, as well as negotiable
certificates of deposit, without a capital requirement.
"Corporate One took the initiative to examine the traditional CIF model, with the goal of creating a new option
that benefits investors and helps sustain OCUF and the national foundation,” said Hart.
Other major successes for the Foundation in 2011 include the debut of the William A. Herring Society, which
raised more than $50,000 for the Foundation, and a re-tooled golf outing, which netted more than $20,000.
For information about how the Foundation promotes financial independence through credit unions, visit
www.ohiocreditunionfoundation.org.
-30About Ohio Credit Union Foundation:
The Ohio Credit Union Foundation, a 501(c)(3) public charitable foundation, is the philanthropic arm of the Ohio Credit Union
Movement. The OCUF was incorporated in December 1997, and made its first grants in 1999. In the last seven years, OCUF has
granted more than $1.7 million to credit unions and credit union organizations to help promote financial independence. For more
information, visit www.OhioCreditUnionFoundation.org.