BANNOCKBURN, Ill.- Great Lakes Credit Union (GLCU) has been recognized by the Marketing Association of Credit Unions (MAC) with the Bronze “Community Engagement” Award for organizations $1B and greater.
The credit union was honored for its “Summer Celebrations” in 2021, in which GLCU held festivities for the community at three of its branches – Waukegan, Country Club Hills, and Crystal Lake – to increase neighborhood involvement; boost awareness of GLCU’s products, tools, and services; and show potential and existing credit union members how GLCU can help empower them to achieve their financial goals.
The 2021 summer festivities catered to families and individuals in the community with food trucks; sporting event swag and tickets; kids’ activities, including face painting and a petting zoo; raffle items; and giveaways. Attendees had the opportunity to win concert tickets, sports memorabilia, movie passes, gift cards, and more, the credit union said.
“By engaging the neighborhoods it serves, GLCU was able to build new connections and strengthen relationships with those in the community; the three successful branch celebrations saw approximately 600 people attending from the surrounding areas,” the CU said. “In the wake of an isolating pandemic, GLCU understands that communities crave the human connection that credit unions have traditionally been known for. Even as GLCU takes strides in digitally transforming the member experience and using the latest technology to provide tailored services, such as with its digital-first Libertyville branch, the Summer Celebrations were just one way in which the not-for-profit organization demonstrated its focus on the personal relationships at its center.”
GLCU said the member-first approach is one of the many reasons GLCU has routinely been recognized as an industry leader on the national stage.
In April, the GLMV Chamber of Commerce honored GLCU team with the 2022 Community Involvement Gem Award for their support, participation, and leadership with the Coats for Veterans initiative, along with GLCU’s other active community programs. Earlier this year, CUNA recognized the GLCU Marketing Team with two Diamond Awards – the former awarding the organization for collecting and donating 1,750 supplies to local schools, and the latter for its best social media campaign.
Previously, the GLCU team received its first-ever CUES DEI: Catalyst for Change Award in 2021, and in 2019, the organization received first place in the 2019 Desjardins Financial Education Awards for leadership on behalf of youth financial literacy.