University of Southern Maine Recognizes University Credit Union as 2020 Exceptional Community Partner
ORONO, Maine (May 26, 2020) – University Credit Union (UCU) is honored to be the 2020 recipient of the University of Southern Maine Exceptional Community Partner Award, which recognizes an employer, partner or organization that has gone above and beyond to support the University of Southern Maine and its mission of academic excellence and accessibility. USM President Glenn Cummings announced the award as part of the University’s 2020 virtual commencement.
“As USM’s longtime partner, UCU has championed our students’ aspirations in the classroom and on the athletic fields and are strongly committed to the well-being of our campus communities,” stated USM President Glenn Cummings. “Recently, they made a donation to our critically needed Student Emergency Fund to help our students meet the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. We are proud to honor them with the 2020 Exceptional Community Partner Award.”
Gerald “Jerry” Hayman, Jr., Board Chair of University Credit Union, expressed appreciation for the award on behalf of the entire UCU team:
“Everything we do for our university communities comes from the heart because we share a common cause: to be a trusted institution for all of Maine, from Portland to Presque Isle, from students, parents and educators to entrepreneurs and beyond. As we have done for more than 50 years, we will always strive to be an exceptional community partner whenever and wherever we see opportunity to do so. Thank you to the University of Southern Maine and President Cummings for this special honor.”
UCU’s contributions touch the lives of students and staff in many ways, from athletics to scholarships to food security. For almost two decades, UCU has supported USM Athletics with an additional $10,000 in annual funding for facilities improvement, equipment upgrades, special events, and other activities. Since 2007, UCU’s contributions have totaled more than $155,000 toward important initiatives, including the construction of USM’s first all-weather playing surface at Hannaford Field.
Each year, UCU awards a $1,000 scholarship to a USM student. UCU has led an annual Ending Hunger on Campus Campaign to raise and match financial donations to campus food pantries throughout the University of Maine System, including The USM Food Panty. In 2018, UCU launched its exclusive USM Platinum Rewards Visa affinity card, a program that directly supports the University of Southern Maine Foundation.
And every day, UCU provides USM students and staff with convenient, local access to financial services online, and in person through its on-campus branch in the Brooks Dining Hall in Gorham and its Portland branch on Forest Avenue, adjacent to the USM campus.
About University Credit Union
Established on the University of Maine campus in 1967, University Credit Union is an innovative, full-service financial institution with a mission to actively advance the financial well-being of our members in every stage of their lives. UCU is the sixth largest credit union in Maine in terms of total assets and total members. UCU has eight retail locations across the state located in Orono, Bangor, Farmington, Gorham, Portland, and Presque Isle. For more information visit www.ucumaine.com.
