YAKIMA, Wash. – Solarity Credit Union has been awarded Community Partner of the Year by the Yakima Valley Partners Habitat for Humanity during its annual Golden Hammer Awards.
The event recognizes those who make it possible for Habitat to serve people in the Yakima Valley who are in need of safe and affordable housing.
In March 2022, more than a dozen Solarity employees donated 92 hours to help Yakima mother Kristen Smith build her future home for herself and her three children with high needs. Because of the time needed to care for her children, Smith was struggling to donate the required hours to be eligible for the home.
Solarity Credit Union said its employees traded their work shifts for a tool belt and helped Smith work toward her dream of homeownership. From hanging drywall to installing a fence, the Solarity team thoroughly enjoyed helping Smith get the needed volunteer hours and watched with great anticipation when she moved in with her children in July.
“We are humbled to receive this recognition,” says Solarity’s President and CEO Mina Worthington. “We believe everyone should have a home of their own. To know that we played a small part in making a big difference in this mother’s life is special. It’s something our team will never forget.”
"It was really neat to be in a room full of people dedicated to serving others,” says Steve Brown, Solarity’s chief lending officer, who received the award on behalf of the credit union. "What an honor.”
In addition to volunteer hours in the past few years, Solarity Credit Union employees have donated nearly $30,000 to the non-profit. Employees are looking forward to the next build with the Yakima Valley Partners Habitat for Humanity®.
A video of the honor can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/mnCMcVHolaE