The Board of Directors for CoVantage Cares Foundation announced that checks totaling nearly $76,000 were recently presented to local non-profit groups that serve communities where CoVantage Credit Union has branches. The funds were made possible thanks to generous donations by CoVantage Credit Union members, staff, and others who responded to the Foundation’s matching funds Giving Tuesday campaign.

Giving Tuesday, which is the Tuesday after Black Friday, and is nationally-recognized for charitable giving, was selected by the Foundation as an opportune time to kick off a fund-raising effort to support organizations that help local individuals and families in need. Branch staff throughout CoVantage Credit Union’s locations were asked to select a non-profit group in the community they serve to be the recipient of funds raised, with the understanding that contributions generated during the two-week effort would be matched, dollar for dollar, up to $40,000 by CoVantage Cares Foundation.

Thanks to the generosity of many, and creative fund-raising by CoVantage staff, a total of $37,850 was collected to be gifted locally. This amount was then doubled, to reach the $76,000 level, because of the matching grant pledged by CoVantage Cares Foundation. Charities selected to receive funding from this year’s Giving Tuesday initiative and their sponsoring CoVantage branches include: Antigo Community Food Pantry and Weekend Backpack Program (Antigo), Elcho Food Pantry (Elcho), Wausau Area Women’s Community (Wausau, Weston, Rib Mountain, and Rothschild), Boys & Girls Club of Shawano County (Shawano), Portage County United Way (Stevens Point), United Way Northwoods (Crandon and Rhinelander), Iron County Cancer Unit (Crystal Falls and Iron River MI). The Foundation Board has indicated that while this is the first public campaign drive sponsored by CoVantage Cares Foundation, there will be opportunities for other organizations to receive funds from future public Foundation initiatives.

For more information about CoVantage Cares Foundation, or to obtain the grant application needed to request a donation, visit www.covantagecu.org/cares. CoVantage Cares Foundation was created by CoVantage Credit Union as another way to live their cooperative mission which includes giving back to local communities. CoVantage, which has their headquarters in Antigo, Wisconsin, has 13 branches, $1.4 billion in assets, 91,000 members, and 360 employees.