April 25, 2007  Days after celebrating National Volunteer Week (April 15-21), the Maine Credit Union movement's unique volunteer program called Credit Unions Share for ME released the final results of volunteer efforts by Maine's credit unions in 2006, and the amount of hours credit unions spent volunteering in their community. The five year-old, award-winning program documented 19,492.75 hours volunteered by credit union staff and directors from January 1-December 31, 2006. Based on figures from the Points of Light Foundation, which calculates the value of one hour volunteered at $18.77, the value of the time volunteered by Maine's credit unions equaled $366,015 in 2006.
According to the Maine Credit Union League, which coordinates the Program, a total of 2,029 staff and volunteers (a 5% increase from 2005) representing Maine's credit unions participated in the program during the past year. In 2006, the top five credit unions donating the most volunteer hours were (location of main office and total hours listed in parentheses): Saco Valley CU in Saco (2,789); Five County CU in Bath (2,506.75); Rainbow FCU in Lewiston (2,299); Oxford FCU in Mexico (1,338); and Maine State CU in Augusta (1,245). The top five credit unions with the most total volunteers were: Rainbow FCU in Lewiston (201); Saco Valley CU in Saco (200); Midcoast FCU in Bath (178); Five County CU in Bath (159); and Maine State CU in Augusta (138).
Throughout the year, credit union representatives participated in community-related projects, such as school activities, ending hunger, serving on non-profit boards, organizing community fundraisers, donating blood, youth athletics, soup kitchens, walk-a-thons, and a host of other events and activities. In 2006, the Program averaged 1,624 hours volunteered per month with an average of 169 volunteers participating. Credit Unions Share for ME tracks and updates the volunteer efforts of credit unions on a monthly basis. Since the program began in April 2002, Maine credit unions have volunteered a documented 83,600 hours for community-service projects.
Jon Paradise, Governmental and Public Affairs Manager at the Maine Credit Union League, explained, "As not-for-profit cooperatives, credit unions are governed by volunteer board of directors who serve unpaid. This program is another way to emphasize the importance of volunteering and giving back to the communities and people that credit unions serve. These figures are only the documented figures provided by participating credit unions so the actual number is likely higher but we are pleased with the level of participation reflected in these results. This program began during National Volunteer Week five years ago so we announce the previous year's figures at this time each year. It is an appropriate time to recognize and pay tribute to the hundreds of individuals who volunteer and are involved with causes and activities in their communities throughout the year."
Though not required to do so, credit unions voluntarily donate thousands of volunteer hours each year. Through Credit Unions Share for ME, Paradise said that the League hopes to increase awareness of how active Credit Unions, their staff and directors are as an entire movement as well as to encourage new volunteer opportunities.
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