5 minute read
PEOPLE HELPING PEOPLE
The Gulf Winds Cares Foundation
by Morgan Cole
IN MANY WAYS, credit unions are much like regular banks. They offer a multitude of financial products and services you’d expect to find at a traditional bank, but there’s one characteristic that really sets them apart – the people who profit. Credit unions are not-forprofit, and each of its members are also owners. Consequently, it’s the members, not bank executives or stockholders, who reap the benefits of a credit union’s investments.
Those benefits can most clearly be seen in credit unions’ lower loan rates and overall lower fees. But the real credit union difference isn’t limited to just monetary savings and financial services. Most credit unions give back to local communities and charities in a variety of creative and generous ways. Some work to promote economic and social justice through outreach to lowincome, rural and at-risk populations, while others provide free financial literacy services to adults and children. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the many ways in which Gulf Winds Credit Union is dedicated to making an impact in the communities in which it serves.
Gulf Winds believes in the credit union philosophy of “people helping people” and the value of being an active part of the communities where its members and team members live, work, worship and attend school. They put this belief into action through annual donations, sponsorships and volunteer hours to support the local communities they serve. “Gulf Winds is serious about local philanthropy and we want to do our part to create a better community for our members, team members, neighbors, families and friends that live right here,” Gulf Winds Credit Union Public Relations Specialist, Frank Giammaria said.
In the last decade, Gulf Winds has given back more than $1.5 million to support local charities and communities throughout its service areas. Gulf Wind’s philanthropic activity in Pensacola alone is more than phenomenal. True to their holistic approach to community success, they make sure to award donations in all three regions they serve throughout Pensacola, Tallahassee and South Alabama.
They don’t just donate to one charity each year and call it day; contributions to these organizations range from $1,500 to $125,000 gifts for capital campaigns. When Manna Food Pantries’ building flooded five years ago, Gulf Winds quickly reached out and provided them with trailers to work out of so they could continue to feed the community without interruption. Once the organization was able to get back on its feet, Gulf Winds went above and beyond and contributed a $125,000 gift to their annual campaign for a new warehouse.
“The generous support from organizations like Gulf Winds allows us to better help those in need,” Manna Executive Director, DeDe Flounlacker said.
In 2020 alone, Gulf Winds provided donations to support core programming initiatives for more than 40 non-profit organizations. Some of the past projects have funded and supported organizations like Ronald McDonald House of Northwest Florida, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida, Junior Achievement and many more.
This year, Gulf Winds kicked-off their philanthropic efforts with a new giving strategy in order to create a more sustainable funding source for future giving efforts. In January 2021, the Credit Union’s board of trustees and leadership team established the Gulf Winds Cares Foundation to formalize and manage the Credit Union’s annual giving and philanthropy efforts as a non-profit
501(c)3 organization based on four pillars of service: elder services, youth services, basic needs and financial education.
“The establishment of the Foundation gives the Credit Union a vehicle to provide dependable, longterm support to key community organizations that are truly helping people,” Giammaria explained.
The Foundation began awarding annual donations to key partners based on the newly established pillars of service in early 2021. Each quarter, Gulf Winds will focus its giving efforts on one of the four pillars awarding donations to a designated set of organizations throughout the fiscal year.
Some of the Credit Union’s most recent giving highlights include a $100,000 contribution to to help fund the purchase of PPE for first responders and staff at Sacred Heart Hospital at the onset of the pandemic and $25,000 to support victims of Hurricane Sally. Already having donated more than $25,000 to support local charities this year, Gulf Winds’ team members have truly embodied the spirit of giving. The team also provided a donation to the Children’s Miracle Network at the Studer Family Children’s Hospital as part of their casual jeans day program.
“Creating the Foundation is an exciting new chapter in a long history of giving back to the community. This new pillarbased giving strategy will help to ensure that this type of funding can be depended on year after year, helping our partners spend more time serving people and less time fundraising,” Giammaria explained.
Having previously worked in fundraising and development, Giaimmaria understands what it’s like to be on the other end of the fundraising spectrum. He knows the work it takes to secure donations and funding from corporate sponsors for needed projects and operation costs. The Foundation’s mission is to help these organizations be able to skip this step so they can focus more on their overall goal – to help others.
In addition to providing quarterly donations to key community partners within each of the four pillars of philanthropy, the foundation will also provide direct support to Gulf Winds members and their children by awarding four $5,000 scholarships to deserving students each year.
The idea of “people helping people” might seem like a simple concept, but there is no denying that it has the potential to make a big impact. With philanthropic partners like Gulf Winds, charities and social service organizations will be able to rely on continued support for their core programs and further their missions within our local communities. •
2021 Gulf Winds Cares Foundation scholarship recipient, Jacob Greeson
