2016’s Community Grants Announced!

Four community grants totaling $50,000 have been awarded by Coast Central Credit Union. This was announced today by Dean G. Christensen, the credit union’s President/CEO. To date, the credit union has awarded $850,000 to 71 worthwhile community organizations. As part of its Community Investment Program, the credit union’s volunteer Board of Directors approved the following community awards:

• $23,000 to the Humboldt Senior Resource Center (Eureka), to support the purchase of a new heavy duty hot meal delivery vehicle, to allow the agency to expand its meal delivery program for homebound seniors.
• $11,330 to the Samoa Peninsula Volunteer Firefighters Association, to help fund the upgrading/retrofit of an existing four wheel drive utility vehicle that will be used in specialized beach/dune rescue work on public and private lands on the Samoa peninsula.
• $10,670 to the Greenview Playground Project (Arcata), to help fund the installation of Humboldt County’s first fully inclusive park, designed for all persons with physical, sensory, or cognitive disabilities.
• $5,000 to the Coffee Creek Volunteer Fire District, to support the purchase of ten updated “Self Contained Breathing Apparatuses,” to enable firefighters to safely participate in fire situations related to vehicle accidents, structures and wild land forest fires.

According to Dean G. Christensen, “the Coast Central Community Investment Program commits $100,000 each year to assist community organizations throughout Humboldt, Del Norte and Trinity counties. This $100,000 is divided into two separate ’rounds’ of $50,000 each. Individual awards range generally from a minimum of $5,000 to a maximum of $25,000 and are granted to approximately three to six organizations during each round.” Christensen also stated that “on behalf of our membership, our Board, management and staff, I’m very proud that we’re able to give back to the communities we serve. This level of giving by the credit union will provide these organizations the necessary stimulus to do special projects and offset budget shortfalls that have become so common in recent years.”

This program, started in February 2008, is in addition to the numerous contributions and donations we already make to community organizations throughout the year. Recommendations from a pool of requests were made to the credit union’s Board of Directors by a committee comprised of credit union staff. Christensen stated, “Coast Central would also like to recognize and thank the Humboldt Area Foundation and Director of Grantmaking, Sara Dronkers for assistance in our selection process.’

The second round of community grants by the credit union for 2014 is beginning now. Applications for grant requests can be obtained online at coastccu.org or by contacting the credit union at (707) 445-8801, ext. 309. You can also contact the Humboldt Area Foundation. The deadline for this round is Friday, August 31, 2016.