$455,986
charitable causes
and organizations
across Oregon and SW Washington.
Unitus donated
to
80
At Unitus, everything we do revolves around a simple premise: what is best for our members and community? Driven by the credit union foundation of “people helping people,” giving back has been at the heart of Unitus since our founding in 1937. We believe a brighter future should be accessible to everyone—and we believe our community is strongest when everyone has access to the resources and opportunities they need to succeed.
In this principle, we donated over $455,000 to 80 charitable causes and organizations across Oregon and SW Washington, continuing our tradition of giving back to local nonprofits, organizations, and emergency relief funds in times of crisis. 30% of this overall giving was directed to culturally specific, BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color)-led, community-based organizations with programs serving communities of color. Additionally, more than 1,750 employee paid volunteer hours were served in our community.
In 2022 we also celebrated the joy of community service with our inaugural Barbara Leonard Day of Service and continued our commitment to various multi-year grants in support of large-scale programs and initiatives that will have tremendous impact on our communities for years to come. You can learn more about these projects and some of the incredible community partners behind them on the following pages.
STRENGTHENING
FOOD
AND
HOUSING
SECURITY
Access to basic needs like food and shelter are essential to our community, and no one should have to wonder when they’ll get to eat again or face housing as an obstacle. That’s why we committed $94,000 in support of programs that work to close the food scarcity and housing gap by providing emergency food relief and services, direct food assistance, and housing support to vulnerable and historically disadvantaged communities.
AWARE Food Bank
AWARE Food Bank, part of Marion Polk Food Share, is one of the few nonprofits addressing food insecurity among agricultural workers in the Woodburn area. In 2021, we proudly partnered with AWARE and committed $50,000 to support the Farmworker Program Coordinator position, which makes it possible for AWARE to increase food accessibility to farmworkers who keep Oregonians fed, but often struggle to put food on their own tables. Support of this position also helped to increase AWARE’s mobile pantry outreach from four to seven farmworker locations and increase distributions from once a week to twice a week. In 2022, we expanded upon this commitment to fund this position through 2024.
Closing the Food Gap with Multi-Year Partnerships
In 2022 we continued our $30,000 multi-year commitments to Clackamas Service Center and SnowCap Community Charities to expand their facilities and provide more access to free food, clothing, and special programs. The addition of CSC’s new Food Hub has allowed them to reach over 10,000 people each month—more than double their previous impact—and SnowCap’s new Covenant Campus space, which is expanding their bursting at the seams operation into a new 12,000+ square foot warehouse, is well on its way to establishing a permanent home for SnowCap’s clothing closet, shopping area, programs, and events. We also gave $7,500 to Sunshine Division in support of their food pantry and home delivery programs.
Pathways to Housing and Beyond
In 2022, Unitus committed $61,000 to organizations working to provide pathways to affordable and emergency housing in our community. Unitus also directly supported families and individuals experiencing hardship through fiscal support and volunteerism such as purchasing and making care kits for unhoused clients at Blanchet House and preparing inventory for Rose Haven's in-house clothing shop. In addition, Unitus united with five other Portland credit unions to address the homeownership gap in Latino and BIPOC communities with a collective $75,000 donation to Hacienda CDC.
DIVERSITY
EQUITY
INCLUSION
ACCESSIBILITY
At Unitus, we recognize that people of color and historically disadvantaged communities continue to face significant barriers. We believe a brighter financial future should be accessible to all and are working to advance racial and social equity, grow economic opportunities, and increase resources and accessibility throughout many of our partnerships.
That’s why, in addition to focusing 61% of our giving on DEI-focused sponsorships, we directed $130,000 of our overall giving in 2022 to BIPOC-led organizations focused on racial justice, economic empowerment, and diverse storytelling. The opportunity to have honest conversations around real needs and challenges with our partners is one we take to heart. We know this is where the true change happens, and that there is more we can do to make that change happen in our community.
We also recognize the importance of celebrating the many cultures and people that make up the vibrant PNW, and are proud to have participated in events such as El Grito, Juneteenth OR, and the Urban League Housing Resource Fair, and supported organizations such as Relay Resources, Native American Youth & Family Center (NAYA), and UTOPIA PDX (United Territories of Pacific Islanders Alliance).
We gave $5,000 in support of Pride Northwest and the many grassroots community events and efforts they put on throughout the year. As the largest avenue for our region’s LGBTQIA2+ community, support of Pride NW brings visibility to Oregon and SW Washington’s LGBTQIA2+ community, celebrates our history and accomplishments, and works to educate everyone about LGBTQIA2+ rights and more. Team Unitus also participated in their two-day Portland Pride Festival and 2022 Pride Parade.
A $30,000 commitment to expand the organization’s culturally specific Summer Bridge Program to double its reach to 60 students in the Portland Public School district helps fulfill Latino Network’s mission to lift up youth and families to reach their full potential. The 8-week program assists incoming Latino students and their parents/caretakers with the transition from high school to higher education through various workshops such as signing up for campus housing, accepting and reviewing financial aid award letters, registering for classes, and individual case management.
Metropolitan Family Services, CASH Oregon (Creating Assets, Savings, and Hope)
We partnered with Metropolitan Family Services (MFS), CASH Oregon to provide Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) to the community again in 2022. The VITA program offers free tax return support to people who generally make $60,000 or less, persons with disabilities, the elderly, and limited English speaking taxpayers who need assistance in preparing their tax returns. Similar to VITA, Metropolitan Family Services (MFS), CASH Oregon is an economic empowerment program committed to improving the financial lives of working individuals and families by providing culturally responsive outreach in the form of high-quality tax preparation. Unitus Financial Education Specialists completed over 30 tax returns as part of the VITA Program during the 2022 tax season.
In 2022, we joined forces with the Urban League of Portland and four Portland-area credit unions on an initiative designed to advance the financial well-being of Black Oregonians: Advantis Credit Union, Consolidated Community Credit Union, Point West Credit Union, Rivermark Community Credit Union, and the Northwest Credit Union Foundation. The purpose of this new initiative, the Financial Empowerment Collaborative (FEC), is to foster financial empowerment to members of Portland’s Black community and introduce supportive products, services, education, and financial tools, including customized financial education and coaching. The FEC’s approach focuses on addressing Black Oregonians’ unique needs, so they can receive tailored education and resources to reach their financial goals. This mission aligns with the Urban League’s mission.
We launched the Azie app on the Apple store as part of the Financial Empowerment Collaborative. Azie provides a link to the services offered by each of the credit unions and ensures fulfillment of services by the participating credit unions and Urban League of Portland, empowering individuals to achieve financial success.
The app is named after Azie Taylor Morton, the first and only African American to hold the office of Treasurer of the United States during the Carter Administration from 1977-1981.
AND YOUTH
In 2022, we invested over $198,000 in organizations focused on financial empowerment and youth mentorship.
Unitus Scholarship Program
Every year, we award outstanding student members scholarships to assist with the cost of higher education. Unitus Scholarships are available to student members as well as child dependents of Unitus employees.
Last year, we provided $17,500 through our Unitus Scholarship Program to seven students who demonstrated leadership, academic excellence, a commitment to community service, and a dedication to pursuing higher education at a two- or four-year college, university, or vocation-technical school.
WOU Bilingual and Diverse Teachers Scholars Program
In 2022, we entered our second year of our partnership with Western Oregon University (WOU) in support of their Bilingual and Diverse Teacher Scholars Program, which aligns resources and opportunities for students to become licensed bilingual teachers and the potential to receive preferred hiring in their home school district. As part of our collaboration we had the opportunity to meet and celebrate the eight students selected for these scholarships in person, as well as hear from Representative Teresa Alonso León, a WOU alumnus and Vice-Chair for Higher Education and Workforce Development.
Financial Education
Thanks to partnerships with Financial Beginnings, Junior Achievement, Girl Scouts of Oregon and SW Washington, and Oregon Tradeswomen, we provided financial education for local students, underrepresented populations, entrepreneurs, and more.
In 2022, we taught 220 financial education classes and workshops to more than 1,770 students focusing on topics such as budgeting, investing, personal money management, how to pay for college, and more.
We were also pleased to recognize 41 employees—including 6 who are fluent in Spanish and 1 each who are fluent in Hindi, German, and Bahasa Indonesia—for recently earning their Certified Credit Union Financial Counselor (CCUFC) designation. All Financial Coaches completed a rigorous training program aimed at identifying member financial challenges, providing intervention and offering assistance not typically offered by for-profit financial institutions. With this training, they have the potential to make a huge impact in our members’ lives.
INVESTING
IN EDUCATION
SUPPORTING
FAMILIES
AND
CHILDREN
Working together is what credit unions do best. In 2022 Unitus and seven other credit unions contributed $63,000 in support of the Salem Health Foundation Families Matter Project, to complete the addition of a respite chapel and garden at Salem Hospital. The Families Matter Project addresses potential disparities by providing new and additional space for individuals and families of all ages and incomes to wait for their patient to receive care, or be admitted to the hospital, 24 hours a day.
Credit Unions for Kids (CU4Kids) is a network of credit unions across the country who cooperatively fundraise for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. Unitus is proud to have been part of this collaboration from the beginning, with a focus on raising funds to support children and families seeking care at OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital. In 2022, Unitus donated $21,000 in support of the Gary and Christine Rood Family Pavilion, which provides a home away from home for patients and families traveling long distances to receive specialized care at Doernbecher.
In addition, Unitus continued our three-year commitment of $75,000 in support of Randall Children’s Hospital's Family Birth Center with a remote blood inventory system that provides life-saving blood transfusion at the child and mother’s bedside.
Dream Come True and Barley’s Buddies
Unitus partners with Beaver Sports Properties/Oregon State to create our award-winning Dream Come True (DCT) program for children and teens who are battling or have battled an unfortunate illness. Thanks to this partnership as well as the Children’s Cancer Association, we were able to engage 11 brave children and families through safe, in-person experiences that provided an experience of fun and joy for all involved.
In 2022, Unitus teamed up with Hillsboro Hops to provide even more memorable experiences for kids in our community through Barley’s Buddies. This program recognizes local students for their perseverance in the classroom, giving them an opportunity to team up with the Hillsboro Hops. Every memorable experience is individually created—from a “behind the scenes” tour, meet and greet with Hops' coaching staff and players, throwing the first pitch, watching warm-ups from the dugout, club seats, etc. Kids also receive fun Hops' swag, including a personalized jersey.
2022 also marks the year we introduced our Barbara Leonard Day of Service. Barbara was Unitus' first female Board Chair and lived a life of service, serving on Unitus' Board for more than 18-years and was a passionate supporter and leader at the Portland chapter of The Links, Incorporated—an international women’s civic organization for which she raised more than $500,000 for educational scholarships.
On October 10, 235 employees volunteered 630 hours at 15 events across Unitus’ service areas: Vancouver, Portland Metro, and Salem. Unitus employees and their families volunteered with the following community partners: Blanchet House, Children’s Book Bank, City of Salem Parks, Clackamas Service Center, Clark County Food Bank, Family Promise, Hoyt Arboretum, Impact NW, Oregon Humane Society, Project Never Again, Ronald McDonald House, Rose Haven, Snowcap Community Charities, SOLVE, and the Tualatin River Wildlife Refuge.
Employees restored books and built STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) kits for low-income youth, hosted a clothing pop-up shop for the unhoused community, created care cards for kids transitioning into foster care, planted 4,000 camas bulbs (a plant used by indigenous NW tribes for food) in honor of Indigenous Peoples Day, and more.
Our employees are passionate about the communities we serve. Built as a way to empower branches to connect with local nonprofits and organizations, Unitus branch teams supported their neighbors and local nonprofits with $14,000 in branch sponsorships through the Branch Community Program. In 2022, each branch supported nonprofits that work to support hunger and food insecurity, community gardens, survivors of traumatic events and human trafficking, the LGBTQIA2+ community, artists with intellectual/developmental disabilities, parent-teacher organizations, day laborers and immigrants, foster families, and children impacted by childhood cancer.
There are people in need. They need your time. And I think that our community, our city, our state, our country, the world would be a better place if all of us bind together and say, ‘I’m going to do my part to make a difference.’”
— Serena Ashley, Barbara Leonard's Daughter
BARBARA LEONARD
DAY OF SERVICE
We’re beyond grateful to our many partners who work tirelessly to provide essential, needed services to our community. It’s because of the direct community work each of these nonprofits provides—along with our members and employees—that the donations and volunteerism we contributed were able to achieve meaningful impact. By committing ourselves to doing the work, to being part of the solution, we’re able to ensure that people from all walks of life are valued, afforded the same opportunities, and able to thrive financially. Thank you for being part of that. Thank you for being part of Unitus.
— STEVEN STAPP, Unitus Community Credit Union President & CEO
COMMUNITY
SUPPORT
Holiday Giving Campaign
Six local nonprofit organizations benefited from our Holiday Drive in 2022. Blanchet House, Christmas for Kids, SnowCap Community Charities, and Sunshine Division were beneficiaries of this year’s Holiday Drive fundraiser, which seeded each Unitus employee money to donate to the nonprofit of their choosing. Unitus branches also hosted food and fund drives for Clark County Food Bank, Marion Polk Food Share, and Sunshine Division. In total, these six nonprofits received $13,232 in financial gifts along with holiday drive donations.
In addition to supporting these nonprofits, we also offered a special 2:1 match for employees as part of our Holiday Drive. The campaign—which kicked off on Giving Tuesday—doubled any donation Unitus employees made to the nonprofit(s) of their choosing up to $10,000. Altogether, we matched $6,528 in response to $3,264 in donations, resulting in $9,792 going directly to causes employees were personally passionate about. Combined with the additional food and fund drive gifts, this culminated in $23,024 in 2022 holiday giving.
Community Heart Award
Every quarter, we award one outstanding employee with the Community Heart Award, which recognizes employees for their community commitment and dedication. Every Community Heart Award recipient receives an award recognizing their exceptional work as well as $100 to donate to the nonprofit of their choosing.
CommunityGIVE Committee
Our CommunityGIVE committee consists of seven employees across Unitus as well as one Unitus member that help direct a portion of Unitus’ overall giving through their own unique experience, community perspective, and recommendations, guiding our purpose and values forward. In 2022, the Committee directed nearly $60,000 to 20 organizations and causes.
PBJ Corporate Philanthropy Award
We were named the third most philanthropic large corporation in the Portland Metro Area by the Portland Business Journal in 2022, up from our previous fourth place ranking, as well as recognized with an “Innovation in Philanthropy” award for our partnership with AWARE Food Bank. This marks the 12th consecutive year we’ve been ranked as a top ten large corporate philanthropist.