Folsom, California – (March 23, 2022) – For the second consecutive year, the Sacramento Business Journal awarded SAFE Credit Union with a Corporate Citizenship Award. The honor recognizes
SAFE’s ongoing dedication to improving communities in the Greater Sacramento Region.
“It’s such a great recognition to receive this award for two consecutive years,” says SAFE Credit Union Community Impact Manager Amanda Merz. “It truly speaks to our steadfast commitment to corporate philanthropy and the ongoing
support we provide to the community through donations and volunteerism.”
The award is scheduled to be presented during an awards breakfast on Thursday, April 28.
This year, the Sacramento Business Journal Corporate Citizenship Award for Economic Opportunity was given in part for SAFE’s 2021 commitment to invest $23 million over 25 years as the naming rights sponsor of the SAFE Credit Union Convention &
Performing Arts District.
SAFE's Terrance Tremelling, Chair of the Board of Directors, Amanda Merz, Community Impact Manager, Dave Roughton, Chief Executive Officer, Faye Nabhani, President and Chief Credit Officer, and Chris Harris, Chief Financial Officer, attend ribbon cutting for the newly named SAFE Credit Union & Performing Arts District in June.
In 2021, SAFE Credit Union also contributed $396,000 – with a goal of providing close to or above $400,000 annually – to fund nonprofits focused on its three pillars of support: education, health and military personnel.
Beneficiaries included $10,000 in scholarships to low-income high school students; $20,000 to two programs assisting military veterans – Soil Born Farms and Allegiant Giving; $25,000 to Project Attain! supporting adult education;
and $20,000 in UC Medical School students to help defray the high costs of completing their M.D.
In 2021, SAFE held 247 financial literacy webinars attracting more than 7,800 attendees; launched its Perfect Cents Podcasts sharing financial health insights; and hosted financial literacy programs for underrepresented youths through a unique high school
branch program at three Sacramento-high schools: Cordova, Rio Linda and Mesa Verde.
Brit Kelleher and Alex Becerra host SAFE's
financial wellness Perfect Cents Podcast.
SAFE Financial Wellness Educator Gina Richardson leads a workshop for the nonprofit, Improve Your Tomorrow.
SAFE employees, who receive time to engage in philanthropy and volunteerism, donated more than 2,500 hours of community service in 2021 at nonprofits of their choosing. SAFE encourages staff to volunteer to make a difference in their
own communities.
SAFE employees volunteer for Snowline Hospice
of El Dorado, Sacramento and Placer counties in October.
Last year, the publication gave the award to SAFE in part for the credit union’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, SAFE provided $10,000 in individual gift cards to California State University, Sacramento, Los Rios Community College District
and Sierra College students; personal protective equipment (PPE) and 3,000 masks to local organizations; and $60,000 in emergency grant funds to help area nonprofits meet urgent needs.
Learn more about SAFE’s community involvement at safecu.org/community and our competitive grants process at safecu.org/community/community-impact/funding.
About SAFE
SAFE Credit Union has made members an integral part of its vision since 1940. Over the years the credit union has kept the focus on what really matters, putting members first, a formula that has seen SAFE grow into a leading financial institution in Northern
California with $4.4 billion in assets and about 245,000 members. SAFE crafts every cutting-edge product and sterling service with members’ needs foremost in mind. In addition to banking services conveniently available through online, chat,
mobile, or phone options, SAFE offers in-person services for members and small businesses at service centers across the Greater Sacramento region. SAFE is a not-for-profit, state-chartered credit union with membership open to businesses and individuals
living or working in Sacramento, Placer, Yolo, El Dorado, Sutter, Butte, Nevada, Solano, San Joaquin, Contra Costa, Yuba, Amador, and Alameda counties. Insured by NCUA. www.safecu.org