2017 Impact Report
Contents Letter
Accomplishments
Community
1 Letter from the President
3 What We Accomplished in 2017
8 Community Building
Mission
Focus
2 Mission Statement
4 Our Philanthropic Focus
Empower 5 Empowering Our Team Members
8 Sigsbee Park Playground Build 8 Habitat for Humanity
Relief 9 Disaster Relief
5 Our Volunteer Program
Cheer
5 #IAMLMCU
10 Spreading Holiday Cheer
Education 6 Our Education Initiatives
10 Giving Tuesday 2017 10 Santa Squad 2017
6 One Pencil 2017
Goals
6 Hutt 2017
11 Where We’re Going in 2018
6 Youth of the Year 2017
Health 7 Our Community Health Initiatives 7 Band Together 7 Our Hospital Partners
Letter
Mission
Accomplishments
Focus
Empower
Education
Health
Community
Relief
Cheer
Goals
Letter from the President As Lake Michigan Credit Union continues to grow, our team realizes the importance of staying true to our culture and the values that have shaped us. Giving back to the communities we operate in is not an obligation, but a privilege. As our Community Relations team drives our internally developed initiatives, we also encourage team members, at every level, to contribute their time and resources to causes they’re passionate about through our volunteer program. We have seen the effect our efforts have on the communities we serve, and we strive to do more each year to improve the lives of those around us. I am pleased to share this report with each of you, highlighting the impact we were able to make in 2017. Sandy Jelinski President/CEO Lake Michigan Credit Union
Moving forward, our dedication to philanthropy and volunteerism will only continue to strengthen as we expand our reach in both Michigan and Florida. I’d like to thank every member of our team for their contributions to the communities around us, and our members, for their continued support.
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Letter
Mission
Accomplishments
Focus
Empower
Education
Health
Community
Relief
Cheer
Our Mission Community outreach has been embedded in our culture since we opened our doors in 1933. Whether through volunteerism, philanthropy, sponsorships or other forms of community engagement, it has been important to be a catalyst for change and growth in the communities we serve. We are proud of our commitment to giving back and the impact our team members make in their communities.
Goals
Letter
Mission
Accomplishments
Focus
Empower
Education
Health
Community
Relief
Cheer
What We Accomplished In 2017
Throughout the past year, we were able to make significant, positive impacts in many areas of the communities we serve. Every step of the way, our efforts were supported by the compassion of our team members, and their desire to make a difference in the lives of others. Whether it was through the donation of time, money, or resources, our team stepped up to the plate and made a commitment to the causes meaningful to them. While LMCU experienced considerable growth throughout 2017, we continued to make it a priority to maintain our focus on the areas that have helped shape our company since its start. We understand the importance of being a consistent resource to our communities, and take pride in our commitment to upholding that responsibility.
120
2,000
146,365
$
organizations impacted through employee volunteerism in 2017
trees planted in Madagascar and South Dakota through our Print ReLeaf partnership
raised towards disaster relief
360
4,782
patients receiving life-saving blood donations from LMCU employees
teachers supported through One Pencil campaign
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462,726
$
LMCU donated in 2017
Goals
Letter
Mission
Accomplishments
Focus
Empower
Education
Health
Community
Relief
Cheer
Goals
Our Philanthropic Focus
With so many worthy causes, we have found it crucial to clearly define our areas of focus in order to make the largest impact possible. Throughout the years, our priorities have remained steadfast in two primary areas: health and education.
Education Staying true to our roots is a guiding factor for our philanthropic decisions. With our beginnings as the Grand Rapids Teacher’s Credit Union, we aim to continue the tradition of supporting educators and children within our communities.
Health We wholeheartedly believe supporting organizations that provide health and wellness resources is an essential part of maintaining thriving communities. Because of this, we strive to be an ally to those championing efforts in these areas.
Community Building Sometimes, we come across causes that don’t quite fit into our focuses of education and health, but have the potential to greatly benefit a community. Throughout the year, we provided support for causes in sectors of housing, law enforcement, economic development, and disaster relief.
Education Giving
Health Giving
Community Giving
42%
30%
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28%
Letter
Mission
Accomplishments
Focus
Empower
Education
Health
Community
Relief
Cheer
Goals
Empowering Our Team Members
Our impact on the communities we serve could not happen without the support of the individuals that make up our company. We seek to empower each member of the LMCU team to make their own difference in the areas that matter most to them.
Our Volunteer Program
#IAMLMCU
Every year, we offer our team members one full, paid day off of work for volunteerism purposes. While we provide information about available opportunities on a monthly basis, many members of the LMCU team use this program as a way to spend more time with organizations already close to their hearts. We are proud to cultivate a culture for our team members that enables them to give back in ways personally meaningful to them.
Throughout the years, #IAMLMCU has allowed our team members a chance to make a difference that is entirely their own. The impacts made have resonated throughout our company, showing us the power a single act of kindness can have.
“ LMCU is unique in its focus on getting us involved with our communities… it (LMCU) has impacted so many lives by creating and strengthening relationships within the communities it services…I’m so thankful and feel blessed to work for such a great organization.”
Sometimes, it is a simple act of generosity that can make the biggest difference. That’s why we strive to create a culture of caring throughout every part of LMCU.
Marisol Oosterink MSR I, South Division Branch
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Back in October, our team at the 68th Street branch performed a random act of kindness for one of our members. They later discovered he had been battling two forms of cancer, and that simple act of kindness had meant more to him than they had known. “ It just makes you step back, once again, and realize that each and every day we have a chance to make a difference and to make someone smile.” Tracy Hofstra Teller II, 68th Street Branch
Letter
Mission
Accomplishments
Focus
Empower
Education
Health
Community
Relief
Cheer
Goals
Our Education Initiatives
Helping children and providing resources to those who do the same is a priority for us. We began as the Grand Rapids Teacher’s Credit Union, and today, we still believe in the pivotal role educators play in our communities. Without their dedication to enriching the lives of today’s youth, through mentorship, education, and support, we would be missing a key piece to future the foundation of our society.
One Pencil 2017
Hutt 2017
Our One Pencil campaign is designed to show support for the educators of our communities. Our teams hand deliver tote bags of school supplies to thousands of classrooms, helping teachers kick-off their school year by alleviating some of the burden that comes with gathering these items on their own.
The Lloyd. F. Hutt College Scholarship Competition was established in 1990, and has evolved every year since. Hundreds of student submissions are received and reviewed annually, and a select few are awarded scholarship funds for their submissions that tell a story in an impactful way. In 2017, students wrote about what they would say if they had the entire country’s attention for one hour.
4,782 teachers supported $34,327 in resources donated
974 submissions received
2,100 personal deliveries made by LMCU team members
10 students awarded scholarships
“ So, I would ask you today, whom have you loved? Could you love more? Could you love fuller, louder, gentler, or more thoroughly? That is my challenge to you, since I have your attention for an hour. Give the gift of love every chance you get. Love yourself for who you are, love complete strangers and everyone in between. Just love.” Wyatt Sutter 2017 Hutt Scholarship recipient
Youth of the Year 2017 For the second year in a row, we partnered with Boys & Girls Club of Grand Rapids to contribute our support to their Youth of the Year program. The initiative is designed to recognize some of the most awe-inspiring young leaders around the country. We awarded a total of $3,000 in scholarship funds to the four finalists, with first place winner Zsana Hoskins receiving $1,500 from LMCU.
$20,000 total awarded in 2017 “ It’s nice to feel appreciated, and this is something I can definitely use to help out my students. Thank you!”
$331,500 awarded since the program began in 1990
Ms. Kathy Zainea Teacher, Carlson Elementary –6–
Letter
Mission
Accomplishments
Focus
Empower
Education
Health
Community
Relief
Cheer
Goals
Our Community Health Initiatives
Caring for one another is vital to a strong community. We believe an abundance of these resources should be available to our neighbors, regardless of their situations. That’s why we work to support the organizations that provide these services. We aim to alleviate the burden of medical expenses on the families and individuals around us, while backing efforts to create happier, healthier lifestyles.
Band Together It was another successful year for our third annual Band Together campaign. LMCU members and employees joined forces to raise more than $31,000 in support of pediatric programs for children in Michigan and Florida hospitals. The funds were donated to 10 hospital foundations throughout our various service areas. “ The support from LMCU and your members has made a tremendous impact for the patients served in the Heartside neighborhood and surrounding areas! Thank you so very much!” Keri Kujala Director, Corporate Donor Relations, Mercy Health
Our Hospital Partners The core of our healthcare philanthropy lies with our hospital partners. We contribute our support so they’re able to better serve our communities. • Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital (Grand Rapids)
• Bronson Healthcare (Kalamazoo)
• Mercy Health (Grand Rapids & Muskegon)
• Holland Hospital (Holland)
• Borgess Health (Kalamazoo) • Munson Healthcare (Traverse City)
• Metro Health Hospital (Grand Rapids)
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• Beaumont Health System (SE Michigan) • Lee Memorial Health System (Florida)
Letter
Mission
Accomplishments
Focus
Empower
Education
Community Building
At the core of everything we do is a desire to uplift the communities we serve. More often than not, we accomplish this by supporting health and education based programs. However, there are times that opportunities arise where we are able to make a positive impact in different areas of community need.
Sigsbee Park Playground Build While we’ve supported playgrounds build in the past, the project at Sigsbee Park had a special sense of significance. Earlier in the year, the State of Michigan had inspected the then dilapidated playground structure that stood in Sigsbee Park in an Eastown neighborhood of Grand Rapids. Deeming it unsafe for use, the majority of the equipment had been condemned, and the city had no choice but to tear it down. As a result, the children in the community were left without a safe place to play. LMCU donated the lead gift towards funding a new playground for the Eastown community. Along with the help of our LMCU volunteers and the other contributing organizations, we were able to complete the project in a matter of days.
Habitat for Humanity Throughout our ongoing partnership with Habitat for Humanity, we’ve been able to assist in the construction and renovation of more than 106 homes for families in need. Everyone from interns to managers have a hand in making these projects possible. We avidly support Habitat’s vision of creating a world where everyone has a decent place to live, and will continue our active involvement in helping them create homes for the families of our communities.
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Health
Community
Relief
Cheer
Goals
Letter
Mission
Accomplishments
Focus
Empower
Education
Health
Community
Relief
Cheer
Disaster Relief
Late in 2017, devastation struck both Texas and Florida as hurricanes Harvey and Irma swept across the states. With thousands of homes destroyed, and many people injured, our team knew we needed to help. In partnership with the American Red Cross, we set up donation matching programs for hurricane victims in both areas to help rebuild their communities. We were overwhelmed by the response of our team, and the members of LMCU. It was because of those compassionate individuals, in conjunction with our matching gift, that we were able to make a large contribution towards supporting those communities affected most.
2,034
$
donations made
40,000
matching funds from LMCU
106,365
$
$
donated by members and the LMCU team
146,365 raised in total
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Goals
Letter
Mission
Accomplishments
Focus
Empower
Education
Spreading Holiday Cheer
The holiday season is a joyous one for many, but for some, it can be difficult. Realizing this, we work to put a smile on the faces of the people we encounter during this time of year.
Giving Tuesday 2017
Santa Squad 2017
We teamed up with #GRGives for another year of supporting community nonprofits on this global day of giving. We made donations to five organizations in the Grand Rapids area.
In December, we launched our fourth annual Santa Squad initiative, where each day leading up to Christmas Eve brought a new act of kindness, service, and goodwill. Coming off of the award-winning impact made during Santa Squad 2016, we branched out to new areas in need with the hope of changing even more lives than in years past.
$10,000 donated Well House Women’s Resource Center Mel Trotter Ministries Ronald McDonald House of Western Michigan Literacy Center of West Michigan
30+ nonprofits impacted 1000+ children gifted brand new toys 200 Go!Bus passes given to Disability Advocates of Kent County Volunteers 13 families surprised with free Christmas trees 1 wish granted, as 9-year-old Manuel was sent off to Disney World by more than 30 LMCU team members and their families, alongside the Make-a-Wish team – 10 –
Health
Community
Relief
Cheer
Goals
Letter
Mission
Accomplishments
Focus
Empower
Education
Where We’re Going in 2018
As Lake Michigan Credit Union continues to grow, we strive to maintain a regional focus with our philanthropic reach. As we look back to our early beginnings, we are reminded of our roots, firmly planted here in West Michigan. While we seek to support the communities that make up our other service areas throughout Michigan and Florida, the heart of our efforts will continue to remain local. Looking forward, we have high hopes for an even more impactful year in 2018. A significant portion of our philanthropic outreach is directly linked to the willingness of our team members to volunteer their time and resources. We are optimistic that as we continue developing our volunteer program, we will see even greater involvement from every area of our team. It is our hope that as we support organizations which aim to positively impact the community, we will aide in creating a thriving landscape in which local businesses are able to excel.
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Health
Community
Relief
Cheer
Goals
For more information, visit LMCU.org