virtual foundation celebration

2021 Foundation Celebration Recap

A wrap-up of our virtual fundraising event spotlighting past Wegner Award winners

A NIGHT TO REMEMBER

The National Credit Union Foundation (the Foundation) hosted the virtual 2021 Foundation Celebration on Tuesday, March 2 in conjunction with CUNA GAC. The virtual fundraising event was an uplifting evening spent with past Wegner Award winners to celebrate all the great work credit unions have been doing during the pandemic.

The Foundation Celebration was presented by Visa, a proud supporter and advocate for the Foundation and for credit unions. Throughout the evening, participants were asked to text to give to make an impact. The Foundation is so thankful for the generosity of our movement, and so far $6,000 has been raised to improve people’s financial lives through credit unions.

If you attended last night’s event and would like to donate, you can still text “NCUF21” to 44-321. Thank you in advance for your support and belief in our work!

celebration collage

A TIME FOR REFLECTION

The Foundation Celebration was dedicated to Pat Wesenberg, a dear friend of the Foundation who recently lost her battle with cancer. You can learn more about the incredible person Pat was here.

The audience was then led through an invocation from Jim Nussle, President/CEO of the Credit Union National Association, who set the stage for the grounding purpose of the event.

“In these times of darkness, let us choose to see and be the light for others,” said Nussle. “In our homes, in our credit unions, and in our communities, we are all in this together and we are stronger together as well.”

The event was hosted by the Foundation’s Executive Director, Gigi Hyland and emceed by Andy Janning from andyjanningphoto.com.

pat slide

MUCH TO CELEBRATE

It was so great catching-up with our past Wegner Award winners hearing how they got started in credit unions, what they are proud of from credit unions during the pandemic, what they are up to now, and some fun bonus questions about their lives now. Here are some of the Foundation’s favorite moments from each of our spotlights:

  • Bill Bynum

    William "Bill" J. Bynum

  • cooperative trust

    The Cooperative Trust

  • diana dykstra

    Diana Dykstra

  • Larry Blanchard

    Larry Blanchard

  • Lois Kitsch

    Lois Kitsch

  • Maria Martinez

    Maria Martinez

  • Maurice Smith

    Maurice Smith

  • tom dorety

    Tom Dorety

THE IMPACT OF THE FOUNDATION

During the event we heard from Brett Martinez on why Redwood Credit Union supports the National Credit Union Foundation:

Redwood Credit Union CEO Brett Martinez
“We know that as a movement, we are stronger when we work together. The National Credit Union Foundation is our credit union movement’s philanthropic arm providing credit unions with the tools, resources and knowledge that ignites and empowers them to create positive change to live a better financial life for their members, their employees, and their communities. I am proud to support the National Credit Union Foundation because their mission is OUR mission. When we work together, our impact is boundless.”
Brett Martinez, President/CEO of Redwood Credit Union

Thank you to our PRESENTING SPONSOR

Thank you to our IGNITE SPONSOR

Thank you to our INSPIRE SPONSORS

Bellco Credit Union • Civic Federal Credit Union & Local Government Federal Credit Union • Coastal Credit Union • CUNA • CUNA Mutual Group • Filene & PSCU • FIS • MasterCard • Metro Credit Union • Patelco Credit Union • Schools First Federal Credit Union • Suncoast Credit Union • Vystar Credit Union • Zest AI

Thank you to our RESPOND SPONSORS

Alaska USA Federal Credit Union • Alloya Corporate Federal Credit Union • BECU • California & Nevada Credit Union Leagues • CSS • Defense Credit Union Council • Elevations Credit Union • Hiway Credit Union • Illinois Credit Union League & LSC • Lake Trust Credit Union • Mountain West Credit Union Foundation • Northwest Credit Union Association • Open Lending • Trellance • University Federal Credit Union • Wisconsin Credit Union League

Get in touch

For more information on the Foundation Celebration

Contact Jenni Speth, Events & Donor Experience Senior Manager

Jenni Speth Headshot

Jennifer Speth, CUDE

Engagement Director

Jenni leads engagement initiatives for the Foundation including our primary fundraising event, the Foundation Dinner.