Dakota CU Foundation Update

​Foundation approves two grants to support financial education for students; board reorganizes with new officer assignments; task force committee formed for CMN projects. 

by Shawn Marie Brummer, Communications Specialist

The Dakota Credit Union Foundation held a virtual meeting on Wednesday, October 25. The primary order of business was the reorganization of officers. April Tompkins, CEO Explorers CU was elected Board Chair; Jim Schaefbauer, CEO United Savings CU was elected Vice-Chair; and Tyler Gross, Senior Loan Officer, Sioux Valley Co-op FCU, was elected Secretary/Treasurer.

The board currently has two open seats: the ND at-large and the SD at-large. If you are interested in serving, please contact Shawn Brummer for a nomination form.

In other news, the board approved two grants for financial education for youth.

Postal Family FCU (Fargo, ND) received a $500 grant to support their volunteer work with Real World Camp. This event provides a full day of financial education to area fifth graders, where students participate in sessions on financial literacy topics and learn to distinguish between “wants and needs,” budgeting, how to manage checking accounts and debit cards, and much more. Real World Camp provides a valuable hands-on experience, and participants leave with tools to better understand costs associated with living in the “real world” when they become adults.

The board also approved a grant in the amount of $2,000 for Junior Achievement of South Dakota. This organization provides financial education to elementary, middle school, and high school students in 42 communities in the state. The grant will be used to purchase materials and digital resources directly used by the students. Credit unions in South Dakota have been strong supporters of the Junior Achievement program; during the 2022-2023 school year, 41 employees from credit unions served as JA classroom volunteers. This school year, more than 40 credit union employees have already committed as volunteers.

Finally, a task force committee was assigned to collaborate on ideas to successfully promote the CU4Kids Micropreemie Care Unit at Sanford Children’s Hospital in Fargo, and to further research projects and partnerships with the two South Dakota CMN Hospitals. The committee includes Jeff Olson (DakCU), Kylee Lemieux (North Star CCU), Dorothy Voorhees (Sentinel FCU), Holly Steier (Western Cooperative CU), and Shawn Brummer (DakCU).

The Dakota Credit Union Foundation Board thanks our members for their continued financial support and consideration as we continue in our mission to enhance and advance the communities we serve through cooperative financial support. Click here to learn more.