For the Antigo Times

The Board of Directors for CoVantage Cares Foundation announced that checks totaling nearly $240,000 are being presented to local non-profit groups that serve communities where CoVantage Credit Union has branches. The funds were made possible thanks to generous donations by CoVantage Credit Union members, staff, and community members who responded to the Foundation’s matching funds Giving 2sday campaign.

Representatives from the Elcho Food Pantry gathered together to accept a check from the CoVantage Cares Foundation Giving Tuesday campaign. Front from left, Mark Klopfer, Carol Hanus, Linda Klopfer, all from the Food Pantry, and Dillon Gretzinger, Jeanne Miller, Brittany Holbrook from CoVantage Credit Union’s Elcho Branch. Back from left, Mike Tuminello, Dave Schindler, Judy Grimm, MaryAnn Evans-Patrick, Russ Davis, all from the Food Pantry.

Giving Tuesday, which is immediately after Black Friday, is nationally-recognized for charitable giving. This date was selected by the Foundation as an opportune time to kick off a fund-raising effort in support of local organizations that help local individuals and families in need. Branch staff throughout CoVantage Credit Union’s locations were asked to select a non-profit group in their community to be the recipient of funds raised, with the understanding that contributions generated during the two-week effort would be matched up to $75,000 by CoVantage Cares Foundation. Because of the overwhelming response in public giving, the Foundation has since decided to increase their matching gift to $100,000.  Thanks to this gift, along with the generosity of many, donations totaling $239,653 are being gifted locally.

According to Charlie Zanayed, CoVantage CEO and CoVantage Cares Foundation Board Member, “We are so thankful to our 100,000 member-owners who support CoVantage Credit Union and their local community. We are very grateful to our members, employees, and community members for their generosity and could not be more thrilled to be able to give a financial boost to these nine deserving charities right before the holidays.”

Charities selected to receive funding from this year’s Giving Tuesday initiative and their sponsoring CoVantage branches include: United Way of Langlade County (Antigo), Elcho Food Pantry (Elcho), Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northcentral Wisconsin (Wausau, Weston, Rib Mountain, and Rothschild), SAM25 Homeless Shelter (Shawano), Boys and Girls Club of Portage County (Stevens Point), Northwoods United Way (Crandon and Rhinelander), Iron County Cancer Unit (Iron River, MI), Friends of Camp Batawagama (Crystal Falls, MI), and Marinette-Menominee YMCA (Menominee, MI).

For more information about CoVantage Cares Foundation, or to obtain the grant application needed to request a donation, visit www.covantagecu.org/cares