Apr 23, 2017

TORONTO, ON – 6 Ontario credit unions have just joined ranks to make a positive difference for Ontario youth by raising funds for the CU Succeed Youth Bursary program. From April 24 to June 3, Luminus Financial, PACE Credit Union, Comtech Fire Credit Union, Your Credit Union, Your Neighbourhood Credit Union, and Community First Credit Union will be helping to raise money through staff and member fundraisers across Ontario.
From now until June 3, Ontario credit union staff will be raising funds for the CU Succeed program, which gives students in financial need the opportunity to become the doctors, teachers, and technicians of tomorrow by providing them with grants to pursue educational or vocational training. Credit union members will also be invited to take part during a special “Giving Week” from May 28-June 3.
“We’re excited to take part in this great cause,” says George De La Rosa, CEO of Luminus Financial. “Young people are the future of our community, so it’s important for us to make sure they have the opportunity to go to school and develop the skills they need to become who they want to be.”
This year’s fundraising goal is to exceed the 51 bursaries granted to Ontario students last year. For credit unions who haven’t yet joined the fundraising efforts, there’s still time to participate. The Ontario Credit Union Foundation invites credit unions and the public to learn more at https://ocuf.org.
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About the Ontario Credit Union Foundation
The Ontario Credit Union Foundation (OCUF) was registered in 1979. Over the past 37 years, we have supported credit unions and co-operatives with their philanthropic giving in communities across Ontario. OCUF receives oversight and strategic direction from a nine-member volunteer Board of Directors elected by members of the Foundation at the annual general meeting. The Foundation is similar to private and local community foundations in that it administers funds created by donors for specific charitable purposes. In addition to the 45 funds we manage, we maintain a general fund we use to support our main charitable activity, the support of youth education and leadership.
Apr 11, 2017

Calling all Ontario credit unions and staff! The Ontario Credit Union Foundation is excited to invite all local credit unions and staff to take part in the 2017 CU Succeed Youth Bursary Fundraiser and contest.
Every year, over 30% of Ontario youth choose not to pursue higher education because of financial barriers.
We think everyone deserves a chance to go to school, so in 2016 the Ontario Credit Union Foundation gave 51 students bursary funds to help pursue their dreams. This year with your support we want to help even more!
Let’s do more, together! We are looking for your help as we join with credit unions and their staff across Ontario in support of a single cause: to help more Ontario youth pursue their dreams of a better career through educational or vocational training. Will you join us?
Throughout the month of May, Ontario credit union staff and members are invited to help support the doctors, teachers, and technicians of tomorrow by raising funds to provide education grants to students in financial need. Best of all? For your help you could win a raft of amazing prizes!
To learn more or to sign up to help raise funds, visit https://ocuf.org or the campaign details page at https://ocuf.org/succeed/cu-succeed-youth-bursary-fundraiser/.
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About the Ontario Credit Union Foundation
The Ontario Credit Union Foundation (OCUF) was registered in 1979. Over the past 37 years we have supported credit unions and co-operatives with their philanthropic giving in communities across Ontario. OCUF receives oversight and strategic direction from a nine-member volunteer Board of Directors elected by members of the Foundation at the annual general meeting. The Foundation is similar to private and local community foundations in that it administers funds created by donors for specific charitable purposes. In addition to the 45 funds we manage, we maintain a general fund we use to support our main charitable activity, the support of youth education and leadership.
Apr 5, 2017
OCUF is pleased to announce the appointment of two new Board members.
At the Annual General Meeting, members voted to accept the recommendation of the nomination committee adding Frugina Ball from Alterna Savings and Kevin Connolly from Comtech Fire to the Board of Directors. Board Chair, Dan Coldwell commented “We are delighted to have Frugina and Kevin join our board. They each bring extensive knowledge and experience in the credit union sector which will help us ensure we remain responsive to our members.”

Frugina Ball
Frugina has over 25 years of Financial Services industry experience with the majority spent in senior leadership roles at both Alterna and a national Canadian Bank. These included the areas of Commercial Banking, Corporate Office, Wealth Private Client Services and Retail Distribution.
Specifically at Alterna, as part of her mandate, Frugina leads the growth and profitably of the branch portfolio; provides guidance and coaching to deliver superior member and customer experience in all channels; contributes to business development activities; overall leadership to the Retail branch teams in GTA, Wealth Management, Contact Centre and Affinity team oversight.
In her spare time, Frugina is a passionate champion of the benefits of a post secondary education. She has been an active volunteer in her high school, Toronto French School, as well as with Enactus Canada and her Church youth program. Frugina has an Honours Bachelor of Science from University of Toronto and obtained an MBA from Queen’s University, in Kingston, Ontario. She lives in Toronto with her husband and their daughter.

Kevin Connolly
Kevin is currently the Chief Marketing Officer at Comtech Fire Credit Union. In addition, he oversees the business development/partnerships area for the Credit Union. He has over 25 years of experience in the financial services business, the last eight in the Credit Union system. Previously Kevin held the positions of Vice President, Sales & Service with Northern Credit Union and Chief Executive Officer of Fire Services Credit Union prior to its merger with Comtech. Kevin has served on the Board of the Canadian Fire Fighters Museum in Port Hope, and is the lead organizer of Comtech Fire’s Annual Charity Golf Tournament that has raised over $60,000 for the Canadian Fallen Firefighters Foundation.
Kevin lives in Oakville with his wife Marisa, daughter Cassandra and Great Dane Luna.
Apr 4, 2017
At our Annual General Meeting we said goodbye and thank you to two Board members.

Deanna Basso
Deanna Basso has left the credit union space and is enjoying a challenging marketing role which involves considerable travel throughout North America. As such, in her discussion with Board Chair Dan Coldwell, she agreed it would be best not stand for re-election at the end of her term, to accommodate someone else working within an Ontario credit union.
Deanna Basso joined the OCUF Board in 2011. During her two terms Deanna was an enthusiastic support of the Foundation. She sat on the Governance Committee and helped steer many discussions on good governance, as well as reviewing and updating of Policy and Procedures manual. There wasn’t an event or activity put on by the Foundation that Deanna wasn’t at the front of the line, volunteering to help and be our brand ambassador. Her creativity and outgoing nature helped energize our events such as the annual golf classic fundraiser or an AGM.

Mark Ventry
Mark Ventry was the previous Executive Director of On Co-op as many will recall. Mark is currently working in Windsor and in discussions with our Board Chair, Mark volunteered to step down at this time to accommodate a credit union person who would be better able to attend meetings.
Mark joined the Board in 2010 and has been a strong contributor, serving as Chair of the Governance Committee for the past number of years. His attention to detail on policy reviews and governance issues was instrumental in steering the Committee and the Board.
We wish the best of luck to both Deanna and Mark. A small token of our appreciation was presented to Deanna at the AGM. We will catch up with Mark soon to present his gift, and to thank him in person.
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