FOLSOM, Calif. – (October 18, 2022) Putting together bags for families with
kids facing cancer. Sorting food at regional food banks. Creating kitchen kits for refugees new to the Sacramento
region. Serving meals to mothers and children getting their lives back on track. Staffing fundraisers. Writing
letters to those in hospice.
These were just some of the activities SAFE Credit Union’s 750
employees participated in during the credit union’s Building CommYOUnity Month in September. From individuals
making dog toys out of old T-shirts to hosting birthday parties for children in the VOA homeless shelters, SAFE
employees found many ways to support the causes they care the most about.
“We had a tremendous response from our employees as we put out the call to make a difference during the entire
month of September,” says SAFE Credit Union Community Impact Manager Amanda Merz. “Hundreds of employees
participated in volunteer opportunities impacting over 20 nonprofits. I am so excited to see how well Building
CommYOUnity brought SAFE employees and the community together.”
Altogether, SAFE employees volunteered at 20 nonprofits in the Greater Sacramento region.
Human Resources team paints The Crooked Mile at Fairytale Town.
Volunteerism is a part of the award-winning culture at SAFE -- the credit union has been named a
Best Place to Work in the Sacramento area by the Sacramento Business Journal five years in a row. Each
employee receives 16 hours of paid time off each year to volunteer. Employees are encouraged to volunteer on their
own, with their co-workers as a team building exercise, or sign up from a regularly updated list of opportunities
put together by a team dedicated to SAFE’s volunteer efforts.
“When I was lining up nonprofits for SAFE to volunteer for in September, I made sure to find a wide range of
organizations, activities, and even locations,” says Community Impact Specialist (and Perfect Cents Podcast co-host) Brit Kelleher. “I know
that we have teams here at SAFE that love getting together to do some good in the community as a team building
exercise. Others like to volunteer on their own. We had people out planting, painting, and directly helping
people!”
SAFE launched its Building CommYOUnity Week two years ago, but this year decided to extend it to a full month to make
a bigger impact on the community.
Granite Bay branch employees stuff care bags for Keaton's Child Cancer Alliance.
West Sacramento branch staff put together kitchen kits for opening doors.
Employees say they loved the experience and appreciated having an entire month of opportunities lined up for them to
choose from.
“To me, volunteering is about giving back to the community,” says Human Resources Coordinator Taylor
Morgan. “SAFE says they care about our people, and that is so true. But our people are more than our employees
and members. They are the people in the community who we want to give back to.”
The nonprofits enthusiastically appreciate the support.
Karen Shahhoesseini hands out food at RiverCity Food Bank
“We’ve had an incredible partnership with SAFE with volunteers coming many times,” says Karen
Edwards, Community Engagement Manager at St. John’s Program for Real Change. “We love having SAFE come
volunteer. Thanks for sending groups these last couple of weeks.”
To learn more about SAFE’s Building CommYOUnity Week and how SAFE supports the community, contact AVP
Communications and PR Carole Ferguson at (916) 836-6318.
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 $4.5 billion in assets and about 247,000 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