Beyond the Balance Sheet: Virginia Credit Union's $2.8M Community Blitz

RICHMOND, VA – January 14, 2026 – Virginia Credit Union (VACU), along with its Member One division, made a staggering community investment in 2025, channeling nearly $2.8 million into local charities and financial education initiatives. The financial cooperative also dedicated over 2,100 employee volunteer hours, demonstrating a deep commitment that redefines the role of a financial institution in community building and social responsibility. The combined effort, totaling almost $1.5 million in direct charitable giving and over $1.3 million in financial empowerment programs, marks a significant escalation in the institution's mission-driven activities across the Commonwealth.

“Charitable giving and community engagement are central to who we are as an organization, and our efforts are a direct reflection of our caring, compassionate, and community-minded staff and board,” said VACU President/CEO Chris Shockley. “We’re also proud to work alongside dozens of community partner organizations and schools that align with our mission to support and amplify their good work.”

A Multi-Million Dollar Bet on Financial Empowerment

The cornerstone of the credit union's community strategy is its massive investment in financial education. With an outlay of more than $1.3 million in 2025, VACU’s award-winning programs reached an unprecedented 131,256 individuals. This figure represents a significant year-over-year increase, up from 100,000 people reached in 2024, and positions the institution as a national leader in the field. According to industry data, VACU ranks among the top credit unions in the country for the number of adults reached and presentations delivered.

The programs are notable for their breadth and innovation, extending far beyond traditional banking workshops. The institution has developed specialized curricula for a wide range of Virginians, including:

• Youth Programs: A "Financial Success for Kids" initiative engages children as young as four, while partnerships with schools provide resources for K-12 students. In the Roanoke Valley, a collaboration with Kids Square Children’s Museum integrates financial literacy into a mobile STEAM education unit.

• Vulnerable Populations: The credit union has gained national recognition for its work with at-risk groups. An intensive six-week course for young adults aging out of foster care has shown remarkable results, with the percentage of participants classified as "Financially Healthy" increasing nearly seven-fold by the program's end. Similar programs are offered to incarcerated individuals preparing for reentry into society.

• Adult Education: The annual Financial Success for Women summit drew a combined 500 attendees in Richmond and Roanoke for full-day events focused on financial wellness and leadership. Through a partnership with the national non-profit GreenPath Financial Wellness, members have access to free, individualized counseling on everything from debt management to homeownership.

“Our financial education resources empower members to make financial decisions with confidence and to use the credit union’s consumer-friendly products and services to achieve greater personal financial success,” said VACU Senior Vice President of Financial Education Cherry Dale. “Financial education is a critical component of our mission to serve members, but we also know our programming is making our communities stronger and more resilient by enabling people to better understand and manage their money.”

The reach of these initiatives is amplified through strategic media partnerships. A long-standing relationship with Richmond-based WWBT/NBC12 resulted in financial education segments airing nearly 1,400 times in markets across the nation, with a potential audience reach topping 603 million.

Weaving a Community Safety Net

Beyond education, VACU and its Member One division directed almost $1.5 million in 2025 to fortify the efforts of more than 50 partner organizations, nonprofits, and schools. This support is strategically focused on core areas of need: food security, children’s health and wellness, and overall community well-being.

Food security was a major focus, with over $67,500 donated to food banks and pantries from the New River Valley to Fredericksburg. This financial support was bolstered by direct action, as staff contributed over 200 volunteer hours at local food banks. The popular "Strike Out Hunger" initiative, a partnership with five Minor League Baseball teams, creatively linked on-field performance to community giving by donating funds to local food banks for every strikeout recorded by partner teams.

“We know that food insecurity is an ongoing concern in our communities, affecting many of our neighbors,” said Member One Market President Tim Rowe. “By supporting food security initiatives, we’re making a meaningful difference for the children, families, seniors, and veterans facing hunger and who may be struggling to put nutritious food on the table.”

Long-term partnerships highlight the depth of this commitment. Over the past decade, VACU's donations to the Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU have surpassed $300,000. Similarly, food non-profit Shalom Farms has received over $100,000 from the credit union since 2018.

The institution's impact is also measured in human hours. An employee-led program coordinated over 2,100 volunteer hours, providing essential manpower to nonprofits across Virginia. This hands-on support has garnered recognition from organizations like the United Way of Greater Charlottesville and Chesterfield County Public Schools.

“So many of our local nonprofits and community groups depend on the time, skills, and talents of volunteers to fulfill their missions and to amplify the impact of their efforts,” noted VACU Learning and Development Manager Nathan Moubray, who coordinates the credit union's volunteer efforts. “Our volunteer initiatives are one more way we can make a difference.”

The Cooperative Difference in Action

This comprehensive approach to community reinvestment exemplifies the foundational philosophy of the credit union movement: "people helping people." Unlike shareholder-owned banks, credit unions are member-owned cooperatives, allowing them to reinvest profits into member benefits and community support. VACU's 2025 activities serve as a powerful case study of this model in practice, demonstrating how a financial institution can prioritize social impact alongside financial services.

The institution’s strategy is unified across its entire footprint, including its Member One division which serves communities in Southwest and Central Virginia. The joint $75,000, five-year commitment to the Kids Square Children’s Museum in Roanoke is a prime example of this integrated approach, leveraging the combined strength of VACU and Member One to address regional needs. New partnerships in 2025 with the YMCA of Virginia’s Blue Ridge and Goodwill Industries of the Valleys’ Excel Center further expanded this impact in the Roanoke region.

This investment appears to yield returns for members as well. Internal analysis shows that VACU members, on average, have higher financial health scores than the national average across key metrics like spending, saving, and borrowing. This suggests a direct link between the credit union's educational efforts and the financial well-being of the nearly 500,000 individuals it serves.

By focusing on foundational issues like financial literacy and food security, the credit union is not just providing aid but is actively investing in the long-term resilience and prosperity of Virginia's communities. This holistic strategy positions the institution as a vital community partner, proving that its success is intrinsically linked to the health and stability of the people it serves.