Community Involvement and Charitable Donations

Cooperation, Community, Education, and Sharing are core values of Kingston Community Credit Union. We strongly believe in building cooperative relationships with our members and our community.  For over 65 years Kingston Community Credit Union has made a positive impact in our local community with charitable giving, volunteerism, and financial education.  We have a proud tradition of cooperative business ethics and a commitment to continually demonstrate our Mission, Vision, and Values.

As part of the credit union philosophy of People Helping People, KCCU is committed to building, strengthening, and enhancing the lives of those in our community.   

 

View our recent Community Reports:

               

 

 

 

 


                                  

We were proud to support the following organizations in 2023:

  • Amherst Island Radio/Radio Free Stella
  • Battersea Pumpkin Festival
  • Boys & Girls Club Kingston – Pink Shirt Day
  • Big Brothers and Big Sisters
  • Bloomskills Centre
  • Blue Canoe Theatrical Productions Inc.
  • Breast Cancer Action Kingston
  • Corus Clothes for Kids
  • CU Succeed Youth Bursary - Ontario Credit Union Foundation
  • Dawn House
  • Epilepsy South Eastern Ontario
  • Extendicare Kingston
  • Frontenac Club Day Care
  • Girls Inc.
  • Greater Kingston Chamber of Commerce
  • International Credit Union and Co-op Week
  • Juvenis Art Festival
  • KCCU Community Sharing & Christmas Caring Program
  • KEYS
  • Kids for Kids Hockey Organization
  • Kingston 4Paws
  • Kingston Animal Rescue
  • Kingston Canadian Film Festival
  • Kingston Community Climate Action Fund - City of Kingston
  • Kingston Community Health Centres
  • Kingston Community House
  • Kingston District Sports Hall of Fame
  • Kingston General Hospital
  • Kingston Humane Society
  • Kingston Police Association
  • Kingston Professional Fire Fighters Association
  • Kingston Seniors Association
  • Kingston United Soccer Club
  • Kingston Women’s Art Festival
  • Kingston Youth Shelter
  • Lakeside Community Garden
  • Land Conservancy for KFL&A
  • Lasalle Secondary School
  • Lionhearts
  • Loving Spoonful
  • Luke’s Place
  • Machine Mavericks
  • Martha's Table
  • Mayor’s Fund for Students from Ukraine
  • Memorial Centre Farmers’ Market Association
  • Oak Street Garden
  • One Roof Youth Wellness Hub
  • Ontario Co-operative Association
  • Ontario Credit Union Charitable Foundation
  • Pathways to Education Kingston Endowment Fund
  • Partners in Mission Food Bank
  • Root Radical
  • Sandy Pines Wildlife Centre
  • Sheba’s Haven Rescue
  • Socks Kingston
  • St. Vincent de Paul Kingston
  • Sustainable Kingston
  • Take Away & Recycle
  • Trellis HIV and Community Care
  • United Way of KFLA
  • Youth Diversion
  • Youth Imagine the Future Writing and Art Festival

 


 

KCCU supports local community charities, cooperatives and not for profits by offering a no-fee Co-operation Plus Account (for qualifying members) and a low fee Community Account for clubs, teams, and organizations.

 KCCU Recognized with 2023 Outstanding Corporate Achievement Award.  The Outstanding Corporate Achievement Award is awarded annually by the Ontario Credit Union Foundation to a credit union in recognition of their contribution in their community. KCCU was honoured as the recipient of this award in May 2023.  The award was presented virtually by Frugina Ball, Vice Chair of OCUF to members of our Social and Fundraising Committee.   You may view the award presentation on our youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82cbG7_rnEo

“KCCU has always been a strong believer in contributing to our community to improve the lives of our members and their families. We are humbled by the caring enthusiasm of our staff and grateful for the recognition of their efforts by the OCUF”         ~Jon Dessau, CEO of Kingston Community Credit Union.

 

United Way KFL&A.  We are proud supporters of United Way KFL&A and applaud their positive impact in our community.  KCCU is a long-time participant in the United Way KFL&A Workplace Campaign and in 2023 donated $12,873.  The funds were a combination of employee contributions, corporate matching, and proceeds from a fundraising BBQ coordinated by our Social and Fundraising Committee.  Special thanks to the volunteers from United Way for stepping up to help at the event!  KCCU is recognized by United Way KFL&A for our continued Platinum status with forty-four strait years of achieving 100% staff participation in the Workplace Campaign!  This speaks volumes about the dedication and generosity of KCCU's staff, who continue to set an excellent example for other workplaces in our area.

In 2023 we also participated in their annual backpack program, tampon Tuesday and coat drive, donating supplies and volunteers. 

Kingston Community Climate Action Fund.  KCCU joins the City of Kingston for a fourth year to support the Kingston Community Climate Action Fund (KCCAF) with a new project announced at a kick-off event held December 1, 2023. 

The Kingston Community Climate Action Fund was developed to support local charities and not-for-profit organizations, and their initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) and/or air emissions, increase energy conservation or efficiency, reduce, or divert organic waste, or assist with Climate Change adaptation and technology innovation reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs).                               

Over the past four years KCCU has actively promoted the fund and its projects, assisted in fundraising, and donated $20,000 to the fund. Please refer to our website for details on current and past projects and how you can contribute.

 

Kingston Community House for Self-Reliance.  In June 2023 KCCU answered a call for community assistance and provided a donation of $10,000 to the Kingston House for Self-Reliance toward their renovation goal of $60,000.   The House, located at 99 York Street is a not-for-profit organization providing safe, comfortable, and inclusive meeting spaces for community groups and individuals.  It has been home to hundreds of organizations, project, and fun activities since 1983.

The house, although quite beautiful, is built on five levels and therefore quite difficult to make accessible.  A plan has been developed to correct this and they continue to seek donations for the organization’s biggest undertaking ever. To learn more visit:  kingstoncommunityhouse.org

 

Pathways to Education Kingston.  KCCU has committed to supporting Pathways to Education Kingston Endowment Fund with $100,000 donation spread over 4 years.  The first installment of $25,000 was contributed in 2023.

Pathways to Education Kingston empowers high school youth in North Kingston with tools to succeed in school, work and life.

 

Out and About in Our Community. We really do get around!  We welcome opportunities to engage with people. In 2023 our volunteer teams supported Loving Spoonful’s Night Market, Sustainable Kingston Tree Planting, KCHC Community BBQ, Memorial Centre Farmers’ Market Zucchini 500, Big Brothers & Big Sisters Teddy Bear Picnic, Kingston Humane Society Big Paws, the Youth Imagine the Future Writing and Art Festival, to name just a few.  If you see us out and about, please stop by for a chat!

 

Christmas Caring.  Our Christmas Caring Program has been going strong for over thirty years and has assisted over 1,000 members and their families to have a joyful Christmas. The program is designed to help those members who have encountered personal economic hardship over the past year due to illness, layoff, job loss, under-employment, or limited income. In 2023 we helped six member families by providing groceries and gifts. 

 

Community Sharing.  Our Social and Fundraising Committee raises funds and seeks donations throughout the year to help support community initiatives such as tampon Tuesday, backpack program, sock drives, and so on.  With the generous staff and member donations our team assembled 30 robust Winter Care Kits distributed through St. Vicent De Paul Society of Kingston and supplied Summer Care Kits distributed through Socks Kingston. Thank you for your donations and support!

Our Financial literacy initiatives. We are committed to educating our members and our community.  We regularly share our experience and knowledge with local schools, groups, and organizations by providing financial literacy sessions on topics such as budgeting, saving, credit, and investing.  Our website hosts a full library of fun financial learning videos.  Please check them out.  All videos are a fun and light way to learn about financial products and provide answers to your financial life questions.  We also provide information and resources on our social media channels so please connect with us there.

If you know of a group or organization that would be interested in receiving financial literacy training, please contact us at kccu.ca.   

 

Youth Bursaries.  KCCU continues to actively promote the Ontario Credit Union Foundation CU Succeed Youth Bursary.  In 2023, 87 exceptional students shared a total of $100,000 as winners of this esteemed Student Bursary Program.  KCCU offers congratulations to our four bursary winners, Austin, Ephram, Karley, and Kaitlyn!

The CU Succeed Youth Bursary provides invaluable financial support to students who demonstrate community leadership and require financial assistance to pursue quality education.  The CU Succeed Bursary empowers students to achieve their academic dreams and create a brighter future forward.  Applications for 2024 will open on April 30.

 

Our Staff.  Our warm hearted, caring staff are the key to our successful engagement and support in our community!  Our employee run Social and Fundraising Committee is instrumental in planning and executing many of our initiatives such as fundraisers, drives, Christmas Caring and Community Sharing programs and creates spirit and fun within our branches.  Special thanks to all the members of the Committee for all you do!

 

Our Members.  Our members are simply awesome!  We are proud that so many of you believe in us and continue to support our initiatives.  Thank you so much!

 

Credit Union Difference.  Being part of a credit union means doing more with your money.  It’s making the choice to keep your dollars local, and putting your own health, the health of your community, and your local economy ahead of someone else’s bottom line.  Its about putting your interests first, aligning your money with your values, putting people above profit, and choosing co-operation over competition. 

 

Thank you for being part of our cooperative!