January 2025

CU

SPONSORED SPECIAL SECTION | REDWOOD CREDIT UNION

“There’s no greater gift than being able to make a measurable and often lasting difference in someone’s life.” —Mishel Kaufman, RCU’s chief operating and risk officer and president of the Redwood Credit Union Community Fund.

Kindness program where employees have been able to pay for a stranger’s gas, lunch, groceries, even their prescriptions. “They’re small gestures that can make someone’s day,” Kaufman says. “Many of our team members describe experiencing a rush of joy in making that connection.” Each year RCU also honors a few volunteers who go above and beyond with the Community Heart and Community Pulse awards. “But really, there are so many at RCU who have made it their mission to give back to our communities,” Kaufman says. “Volunteering is all about building relationships—with each other, with the community—and personal development. It’s the heart of what we do here at RCU.” n

Hunter Pence’s Healthy Planet Project and RCU teamed up in August 2024, to beautify a San Francisco school in need of repairs. [Photo courtesy Redwood Credit Union]

allow us to pool our contributions with other prominent local companies to make a larger community impact than any one of us could have done individually.” RCU supports local chambers of commerce and the North Bay Leadership Council. “We’re able to help build an inclusive workforce, provide thought leadership and foster relationships with other local organizations, as well as support and elevate local businesses,” Kaufman says. In 2015, RCU established the nonprofit Redwood Credit Union Community Fund. RCUCF helps empower local communities through financial education, disaster relief, housing and community wellness initiatives. They have raised and distributed close to $38 million, with 100% of donations going directly to the community, free of any overhead costs.

RCUCF has increased its impact through investments to expand much- needed community resources and capacity, such as donating $250,000 for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Sonoma- Marin Roseland Community Clubhouse for youth and provided $250,000 in support to Ceres Community Project, which home-delivers meals to community members with health challenges. The Community Fund also has a holiday mortgage program that helps a handful of members who are struggling by making their mortgage payment during the holidays. “We’ve distributed over $40,000 to date,” Kaufman says. “Making those phone calls every year is heartwarming. Truly, there’s no greater gift than being able to make a measurable and often lasting difference in someone’s life.” Perhaps one of the sweetest ways the company helps in giving to others is through its Random Acts of

Redwood Credit Union team members volunteer regularly at the Redwood Empire Food Bank. [Photo courtesy Redwood Credit Union]

January 2025

NorthBaybiz 51

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