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UW Credit Union Wins State-Level Social Responsibility Award

November 19, 2009 - UW Credit Union has won a state-level first place award and a nationwide honorable mention in the Dora Maxwell Social Responsibility Recognition Award Program. UW Credit Union was awarded the Dora Maxwell Award for an initiative implemented in 2008, in which they took a lead role fundraising for need-based scholarships for the six campus communities they serve; UW-Madison, UW-Milwaukee, UW-Green Bay, UW-Whitewater, UW-Stevens Point and Madison Area Technical College.

Since 1987, the Dora Maxwell Social Responsibility Recognition Award has honored credit unions for their social responsibility projects and charitable works in their communities. UW Credit Union was awarded first place among other credit union entrants in Wisconsin with assets over $500 million. The submission then went on to be judged on a national level, for which it won honorable mention. Award recipients are judged on one charitable initiative done within the past year that demonstrates the credit union values of mutual self-help, cooperation, economic empowerment and volunteerism.

“We ran a three-month member campaign to increase need-based scholarship funds,” said Jaimes Johnson, Director of Community and Campus Relations for UW Credit Union. “During the campaign, we matched member gifts dollar for dollar. We also partnered with three University Foundations that provided an additional match. The total amount raised for all six campuses totaled over $1.5 million, and were placed in a permanent endowment.”

Many UW Credit Union members and employees volunteered their time and resources toward this scholarship initiative.

“We are very honored to receive the Dora Maxwell Award,” said Paul Kundert, President and CEO of UW Credit Union. “We’re proud to make a positive difference by giving back to the campus communities we serve, and it’s wonderful to receive recognition for our scholarship initiative. It’s important to the future of our Wisconsin communities that financial assistance be available to students who have been accepted in the schools, but are unable to afford the cost of attendance.”

The Social Responsibility Recognition Award Program is sponsored locally by the Wisconsin Credit Union League and nationally by the Credit Union National Association (CUNA).


UW Credit Union is a growing, federally insured financial institution and a leading provider of affordable home loans, education loans and consumer loans to University of Wisconsin communities. UW Credit Union’s 350 employees serve the financial needs of more than 142,000 members through world-class technology systems, and through a convenient network of 16 branch locations and 80 ATMs. With assets totaling more than $1 billion, UW Credit Union is ranked nationally among the leading credit unions. Founded over 75 years ago by members of the University of Wisconsin community, UW Credit Union continues to operate as a not-for-profit, member-owned financial cooperative with locations in the Madison, Milwaukee, Stevens Point, Green Bay and Whitewater areas. Visit UW Credit Union at uwcu.org to learn more.