Beavercreek, OH – Wright-Patt Credit Union, Inc.’s (WPCU) Sunshine Community Fund announced the five recipients of its 2021 first quarter awards. More than $55,000 will be shared among the five worthwhile organizations.

Twenty nonprofits applied to be considered for the first round of funds earlier this year. Each applicant was required to include a detailed project plan illustrating how the funds would be used in alignment with the fund’s mission of helping people through life. After initial vetting by the Sunshine Community Fund Selection Committee, the Board of Trustees approved and forwarded the top seven candidates. Only five of those seven organizations were selected to receive funds through a voting process by WPCU partner-employees.

The five selected beneficiaries and their specific projects are:

• Advocates for Basic Legal Equality, Inc. (ABLE) – Eviction Court Housing project, provides free legal service for families struggling in poverty.

• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Ohio – Big Futures Program, prepares a step-by-step roadmap to graduate from high school.

• Fisher Nightingale Houses – Support of military families by providing a compassionate home to support wounded military men and women.

• Per Scholas – IT training and tuition assistance to help men and women gain knowledge in a skill trade.

• YMCA of Central Ohio – Stable Families, assists families in increasing their household income.

The WPCU Sunshine Community Fund is an employee-driven initiative. Throughout the year, WPCU partner-employees participate in numerous events and fundraisers to raise money for local nonprofit organizations. While some fundraising activities were canceled or modified due to the COVID-19 pandemic, WPCU and our business partners stayed committed to supporting the Sunshine Community Fund.

“Over the years, WPCU partner-employees have raised more than $2 million to support many area organizations,” shared Tracy Szarzi-Fors, Wright-Patt Credit Union’s Vice President of Marketing and Business Development. “Historically, the fund has been used to raise money specifically for two or three ‘Sunshine Fund Community Champions.’ However, recent changes now allow us to help even more organizations and the individuals they serve.”

Recent changes to the Sunshine Community Fund

In September 2020, Wright-Patt Credit Union announced changes to the Sunshine Community Fund. Instead of raising money for specific organizations, money is now raised for the Fund itself, which provides greater flexibility in awarding money to more organizations twice a year based on needs. Moving forward, these awards will occur every March, and again for our second quarter disbursements in August.

Applications for our August Sunshine Community Fund awards will open in May. For more information and details about Wright-Patt Credit Union’s community giving initiatives, visit www.WPCU.coop/SunshineCommunityFund

About the Sunshine Community Fund

The Sunshine Community Fund’s name was derived from Wright-Patt Credit Union’s “people helping people” philosophy that has been around since the beginning in the 1930s. Back then, times were hard for everyone and those who didn’t work didn’t get paid. Government workers on today’s Wright-Patterson Air Force Base joined together to contribute 25 cents a pay period to help a fellow coworker who was ill and in need of financial support, until he could return to work. Since its inception in 2015, the Sunshine Community Fund has raised over $2 million to support local nonprofits including: Ronald McDonald House of Dayton, Dayton Children’s Hospital, March of Dimes, Fisher/Nightingale Houses, Gala of Hope, Crayons to Classrooms, United Rehabilitation Services, Habitat for Humanity, Goodwill Easter Seals Miami Valley. Artemis Domestic Violence Center, Homefull, St. Vincent de Paul, and Rebuilding Together Dayton. The WPCU Sunshine Community Fund is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt public charity and donor contributions are 100% tax-deductible.

About Wright-Patt Credit Union

Established in 1932, Wright‐Patt Credit Union is a member‐owned, not‐for‐profit financial cooperative proudly serving Central and Southwest Ohio with more than 421,000 members and over $6.2 billion in assets. As a cooperative, Wright‐Patt Credit Union joins members together, pooling financial resources to meet the needs of all.  The pooled resources provide the capital to run a strong and efficient operation. Wright‐Patt Credit Union is headquartered in Beavercreek, Ohio, and has convenient Member Centers throughout Central and Southwest Ohio. Wright‐Patt Credit Union's mission is to help people through life by allowing members to achieve a greater degree of economic independence. Visit Wright‐Patt Credit Union's website at www.wpcu.coop for more information.