ST. CLOUD, Minn.–St. Cloud Federal Credit Union sponsored and hosted a community recognition program, ChangeMakers: Giving back to those who make a difference, with the St. Cloud Times. The partnership between St. Cloud FCU and the St. Cloud Times was created to highlight people who take their own initiative to do great things in the community, showing their service efforts are on-going.
Nominations were submitted over the course of four weeks, with the winners being chosen by a panel of judges. Each winner received an award and a highlighted article in the St. Cloud Times. In addition, the first place winner received $3,000, with the two runners-up receiving $1,000 each for their great work:
First Place: Cortez Riley, who uses his birthday as Loving Thy Neighbor Extravaganza, coordinating large groups for service work projects directly affecting the homeless. Riley also puts together events that motivate others and leads a financial health group to empower others to achieve financial freedom.
Runner-up: Jody Barth, a volunteer for three decades focusing on training students to make healthy social, emotional, and physical choices. Barth supports teens as a mock interviewer, contributed to the Non-Traditional Career Conference for Girls as a lead mentor, and trained Girl Scouts in goal setting.
Runner-up: Melanie Wander, who startedThe Weekend Project: Feeding Young Minds, with the mission of providing weekend food packs to students in need at Sauk Centre elementary schools.
An award event was held at St. Cloud Federal Credit Union honoring all nominees, nominators, and guests with over 50 people in attendance.
“There are so many selfless people making a difference in our communities, and we’re proud to sponsor an awards program that recognizes and highlights their hard work,” said Sarah Mason, EVP/chief administrative officer for St. Cloud Federal Credit Union. “In a world where we often focus on the negative, it was inspiring to see and learn more of people who create positive change out of the goodness of their hearts, and at the expense of their own pockets,” stated