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On October 31, the staff at Gardiner FCU was visited by Katie Doherty, president of the KV Chamber of Commerce, along with KV Chamber board member Eric Jermyn. They came to announce that Gardiner FCU is one of three finalists for this year’s President’s Choice Award. The staff was surprised and humbled to have been nominated and ecstatic to be a finalist. This year’s Kenney Awards (KV Chamber awards) are being held Friday night, January 25, at the Augusta Civic Center. Attendees will be able to text their vote for the winner, during the event.
The staff has no idea who nominated them or what was said that made them a contender. They can only guess it has a lot to do with all they do in Gardiner and surrounding communities. Gardiner FCU has one location, a new building built in 2015, on Brunswick Avenue in Gardiner. The Credit Union has been in existence since 1953. In the early years, GFCU was housed in Shirley Withee’s kitchen and in Elaine Somerville’s garage, later moving to Old Brunswick Road in the mid-nineties. After merging with Riverview FCU in 2008, they outgrew the old location and began planning their move/expansion to their current location.
Gardiner FCU’s team wishes to thank whoever nominated them and the panel who decided to make them a finalist, for the President’s Choice Award. Most of all they wish to thank their everyday supporters, their Credit Union Members and Community Members, who have tirelessly supported the Credit Union and their many fund-raising activities. The staff knows that without the members, there would be no Credit Union. They treat the members like family and the members reciprocate.
Please join the KV Chamber of Commerce and all the award winners, nominees and finalists, for this year’s Kenney Awards. It is a great night of glitz, glamour, fun, food & more. For more information about the Kenney Awards see the KV Chamber website: augustamaine.com. For more information about Gardiner FCU, see their website: gardinerfcu.org
A sampling of On-going Community Contributions & Involvement
- Gardiner FCU holds dozens of fundraisers throughout the year – raising tens of thousands of dollars each year, for Ending Hunger. Those funds are donated to area food pantries and agencies supplying meals to families with food insecurities.
- Annual fundraising for Special Olympics of Maine & provides volunteers for several Special Olympics events throughout the year.
- Hosting our Annual Red Cross Blood Drive and participating in & donating to other area blood drives.
- Sponsorship of many area events, both annual and special events. The Wall That Heals, Wreaths Across America, Johnson Hall Free Waterfront Concert Series & Capitol Campaign, Gardiner Farmer’s Market, Gardiner Main Street, the Annual Fireworks at Riverfest, Downtown Easter Celebration, innumerable local sports teams’ sponsorships, the list goes on and on.
- Volunteer hours, for staff and board members, total thousands of hours per year. Staff members and board members serve on other boards, such as ARK (Animal Rescue of the Kennebec); volunteer at numerous community events and Gardiner Public Library; serve on committees, such as Gardiner Main Street & Johnson Hall; are members, president and past-presidents of both the Gardiner and Augusta Rotary Clubs; ring bells for the Salvation Army & more. Members of KV Chamber & two young professionals, on staff, participating with Cynergy.
- Gardiner FCU provides six college scholarships, each year, open to any individuals within our field of membership, who are continuing their education, whether they are just starting college or are going for an advanced degree, a recent high school graduate or an adult going back to school.
- Continues to offer financial education, at no cost to the members or community. This is done through regular classes at local elementary schools; some middle and high school classes through both Junior Achievement and Jobs for Maine Grads; periodic free workshops at the Credit Union and by participation in Financial Fitness Fairs, sponsored by Maine Credit Union League, throughout the State.