The holiday season is quickly approaching and with that comes an opportunity to give back to your community and contribute to a better world. Giving Tuesday is a global day of generosity that encourages people to make a difference on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. This year Giving Tuesday will be celebrated on November 30. We're inviting you to participate in Giving Tuesday by making a donation to the Desk Drawer Fund, a foundation supporting the MSUFCU and OU Credit Union communities.

The Desk Drawer Fund is dedicated to supporting the communities we serve and we are proud to contribute to the success of many nonprofit organizations in our area. Since being established in April 2019, the Desk Drawer Fund has donated over $800,000 to support our five philanthropic pillars: Arts & Culture, Empowering Youth, Fostering Entrepreneurialism, Financial Education, and Stable Housing. This Giving Tuesday, consider making a donation to the Desk Drawer Fund and feel confident knowing that you're contributing to the public good and making a positive impact in your own community.

School is back in session and that means MSUFCU is preparing for another year of Lansing SAVE. Lansing SAVE is in its eighth year of educating students in Lansing about the importance of saving for post-secondary education. In partnership with the City of Lansing, Capital Area United Way and the Lansing School District, this program encourages students to set goals and start saving for their future. Each year, MSUFCU's Financial Education Department visits the classrooms once a month from December through May to provide a financial education lessons for students.

On November 23, we will kick off the program with our annual Lansing SAVE Night. This event will be held virtually to ensure the safety of all attendees. This event provides information for the parents/guardians in regards to Lansing SAVE, the savings accounts and an opportunity for an incentive bonus deposit into the child's account just for attending.

This year we are anticipating 280 classroom visits a month in 24 of the Lansing schools. This growth means we are able to educate and prepare more youth in the community for their future!

MSUFCU was proud to support the Lansing Symphony Orchestra's (LSO) annual Reverse Raffle and Silent Action event on Thursday, October 28. LSO was pleased to return to an in-person event where attendees enjoyed a night of hors d'oeuvres, cocktails, and live music.

Throughout the event community members were able to bid on dozens of silent auction items from a variety of local donors, such as the Bradley's Home and Garden, Burgdorf's Winery, Friends of Absolute Music, and many more! In total 250 tickets were sold, raising a grand total of $21,415. All proceeds raised support the LSO's artistic and educational programming.

"The Reverse Raffle and Silent Auction is one of two annual fundraising events hosted by Lansing Symphony Orchestra and provides crucial support for our artistic and educational programming that impact the lives of thousands of individuals across the Greater Lansing region each year. The success of the event is only made possible through continued partnership and collaboration with community-oriented organizations like MSUFCU, who recognize the value that a symphony orchestra brings to our lives," said David Solorio, LSO Development and Marketing Manager.

MSUFCU is excited to announce the launch our 2021 virtual Giving Tree holiday program, taking place Monday, November 1 - Wednesday, December 1. Through the Giving Tree program, members and employees join together to make the holiday season merry and bright for youth in our local communities. This year, the Credit Union will be partnering with Child and Family Charities,MSU University Apartments, Clarkston Area Youth Assistance, The Boys and Girls Club, and Child and Family Services.

Participate virtually by:
1. Purchasing items off of our Amazon wish-lists, which are based on location - Greater Lansing, Oakland County, and Grand Rapids.
2. Making a monetary donation at your local MSUFCU branch.

Interested in making a larger impact in your community?
Your donation can go even further by purchasing through AmazonSmile and selecting the Desk Drawer Fund, a foundation supporting the MSUFCU and OU Credit Union communities. By purchasing through AmazonSmile, the Desk Drawer Fund will receive 0.5% of the purchase price to invest in the local community.

Thank you for making the holiday season merry and bright for local youth!

MSUFCU is committed to cultivating a culture where everyone feels safe to be their full and authentic selves. In support of our inclusive environment, our CU Pride Affinity Group comprised of LGBTQIA2S+ and allied employees worked with Credit Union leadership to implement inclusive methods for employees to share their pronouns including in email signatures and our employee intranet. You will soon see pronouns included on name tags and nameplates around the Credit Union.

Additionally, a small group of employees involved with our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council have continued this work to create educational resources on gender, pronouns, and identity. They're also working with leadership and multiple Credit Union departments to make corresponding enhancements to forms, documents, employee trainings, and more.

For more information about the importance of pronouns, visit MyPronouns.org.