Area credit unions honored

WESTBROOK — Six credit unions with ties to Central Maine were recently recognized as the 2010 state honorees of the Dora Maxwell Awards for Social Responsibility, the Louise Herring Philosophy In Action Awards and, for the first time, the Desjardins Award for Youth Financial Education.

The awards are part of a national program coordinated by the Credit Union National Association. The winners in each asset category will compete in the national awards program in the fall. A Maine credit union has received a first or second place award in the national competition in eight out of the past 11 years, a record that is unmatched in the country.

Professionals from the Maine Public Relations Council judged the awards, which honor credit unions for community and/or member service efforts during the past year — a year that again saw the Maine credit union movement accomplish significant achievements in community-service activities and special initiatives for members.

In fundraising, Maine credit unions raised nearly $1.2 million for various causes, including $375,923.93 for the Maine credit unions' Campaign for Ending Hunger, $60,000 for Maine Special Olympics, $55,000 for the Children's Miracle Network, $50,000 for the Maine Children's Cancer Program, $30,000 for Haiti relief efforts and many more. In addition, Maine credit unions volunteered nearly 24,000 hours for community organizations and activities across Maine.

The 2010 recipients of the Dora Maxwell Award for social responsibility, established to encourage credit union involvement in community projects and activities, listed by asset category, are:

Credit unions with $20 million to $50 million in assets — first place, Community Credit Union, Lewiston; second place, Great Falls Federal Credit Union, Lewiston.

Credit unions with $50 million to $100 million in assets — first place, Central Maine Federal Credit Union, Lewiston.

Credit unions with $100 million to $200 million in assets — first place, Oxford Federal Credit Union, Mexico; honorable mention, Maine Family Federal Credit Union, Lewiston.

The 2010 recipients of the Louise Herring Award for philosophy in action, which formally recognizes credit unions that demonstrate in an extraordinary way the practical application of the credit union philosophy, are:

Credit unions with $50 million or less in assets — first place, Community Credit Union, Lewiston.

Credit unions with $50-$250 million in assets — first place, Central Maine Federal Credit Union, Lewiston; second place, Maine Family Federal Credit Union, Lewiston.

The 2010 recipient of the Desjardins Youth Financial Education Award, which recognizes credit unions for outstanding work with youth financial education and financial literacy, is:

Credit unions with $50 million or less in assets — first place, Community Credit Union, Lewiston.

Vicki Stuart, left, president/CEO of Central Maine Federal Credit Union, accepts the first-place Dora Maxwell Award for social responsibility for credit unions with assets of $50-100 million from Richard Dupuis, board chairman of the Maine Credit Union League. The credit union also received a first-place Louise Herring Award for philosophy in action.

- Submitted photo

Donna Steckino, left, president/CEO of Community Credit Union, accepts the first-ever Desjardins Award for youth financial education presented at the state level from Richard Dupuis, board chairman of the Maine Credit Union League. The credit union also was awarded first place in its asset category for the Dora Maxwell Award for social responsibility and first place for the Louise Herring Award for philosophy in action.

- Submitted photo

Michael Madore, left, board chairman of Oxford Federal Credit Union, accepts the first-place Dora Maxwell Award for social responsibility for credit unions with assets of $100-200 million from Richard Dupuis, board chairman of the Maine Credit Union League.

- Submitted photo