CUs grow and do good in the community

Cornerstone League recognizes member credit unions’ news about their growth, expansion, and community endeavors to exemplify the “people helping people” philosophy. Please join us in congratulating these accomplished credit unions.

Greater Texas donates to Wigs for Kids as employee contributes her own hair

Inspired by employee Blaise Kubesch’s desire to honor her late father-in-law who died from brain cancer, Greater Texas Credit Union has donated $1,800 to Wigs for Kids.

Kubesch donated 16 inches of her beautiful brunette hair to be turned into a custom handmade hairpiece for a child who has lost hair due to a medical condition. The Greater Texas donation covers the cost of creating the hairpiece, and the crafted wig is given to the recipient at no cost.

Kubesch’s father-in-law, Anton Kubesch, was a retired police officer for the Austin Police Department who died from brain cancer in 2019. During his battle, he participated in various treatments saying he “was willing to try anything in hopes it would help brain cancer research, especially for the children fighting the same battle.”“His strength and determination inspired me to find a way that I could help a child fighting cancer,” said Kubesch, an accountant at the credit union’s Austin headquarters. “It took three years for my hair to grow long enough to be donated.”

Wigs for Kids, established in 1981, is a nonprofit that serves children suffering from hair loss due to medical conditions. The organization was founded by certified Cosmetic Therapist Jeffrey Paul after creating a custom wig for his 15-year-old niece suffering from hair loss due to chemotherapy.

Mazuma CU’s 2022 giveback to benefit Kansas Citians exceeds $440,000

Mazuma Credit Union, celebrating its 75th anniversary, strives to give back to the community. Mazuma’s Corporate Social Responsibility program supported community partners Big Brothers Big Sisters, Reconciliation Services, the Victory Project, and the Center for Advanced Professional Studies program. The organization’s total monetary giveback of time, space, and financial assets in 2022 totaled more than $440,000.

Additionally, through its 40 Hours for Good program, Mazuma gives team members 40 hours of paid volunteer time annually to support Kansas City nonprofit organizations focused on the arts, financial education, or community development. Almost 5,000 hours of volunteer time were given in 2022.

The Mazuma Foundation, created in 2015, recently announced its 2022 grant recipients. These 16 local nonprofit organizations have been awarded a combined total of over $75,000 in grants to fund a wide range of community-focused initiatives that promote accessibility, opportunity, and quality of life across the Kansas City metropolitan area. With these funds, the Foundation has surpassed $500,000 in grants since its founding. The 16 grant recipients in 2022 include:

• ArtsKC – Regional Arts Council
• Center for the Developmentally Disabled
• Community LINC
• EarlystART
• Hillcrest Transitional Housing
• Hope House
• HopeKids
• Kansas City Community Gardens
• Literacy KC
• Newhouse KC
• POAC Succeed
• Prosperity Center for Financial Opportunity
• reStart Inc.
• Rose Brooks Center
• Summit Art
• YMCA of Greater Kansas City
  

“Giving back to our community is not only at the forefront of our purpose, but it also exemplifies the ‘people helping people’ philosophy that our credit union movement is built upon,” said Deonne Christensen, president/CEO of Mazuma. “Our city is home to so many community-minded people and organizations, we feel honored to give back to our members and our community by supporting the incredible work that they do.”