CU Donates $22,077 through Cash Back to the Community Program

American Eagle Financial Credit Union (AEFCU) announced the recipients of $20,077 in donations from the third quarter of its participatory funding program, Cash Back to the Community.

Congratulations Enfield Community Cat Project, TLC Foundation, Inc. of Manchester, and Roarding Brook Nature Center, Canton. These nonprofits each received a donation of $7,359 as the top three vote recipients among 158 nominations and 3,418 votes from members and the general public. Thus far in 2020, Cash Back to the Community donations total $62,344.

Watch winners announcement video.

Enfield Community Cat Project works with the town to rescue homeless and abandoned cats. The organization seeks to provide veterinary treatment to sick or injured cats as well as foster homes while seeking a permanent home. The Enfield Community Cat Project also promotes spay and neutering of cats in order to reduce over population, suffering, and disease.

"This is a huge win for Enfield Community Cat Project by being chosen for this community award. Our plans for this amazing donation are to help us cover the many expenses we are still facing because of COVID. We have literally been drowning in vet bills so this is a huge relief to our rescue and will give us an opportunity to save more lives,” said Dawn Struck, President & Founder of Enfield Community Cat Project.

TLC Foundation, Inc. in Manchester is a transitional living center which offers a safe, structured family-like environment to Manchester school children who are victims of abuse, neglect family disruption, parent-child conflict or lack of a suitable home environment beyond their control. TLC offers the chance for school aged boys and girls to continue in Manchester Schools and live in a family-like environment.

“On behalf of the TLC Foundation, I want to express appreciation to the Community Involvement Fund of American Eagle Financial Credit Union. During these unprecedented times of COVID-19, the monies from the Community Involvement fund will assist with staffing, the purchase of PPE and recreational activities,” said Liama B. Holmes, Executive Director of the TLC Foundation.

Roaring Brook Nature Center in Canton seeks to increase awareness, appreciation and knowledge of the natural world, and the interrelationships that exist between people and the changing environment.  The center maintains five miles of trails on the adjacent state-owned Werner’s Woods property. This refuge is home to a variety of native wildlife species. Outdoor gardens provide opportunities for visitors to view wildflowers, birds and butterflies in season. Seasonal nature walks for all ages are offered throughout the year.

“Roaring Brook Nature Center is most appreciative for the generous donation from American Eagle Financial Credit Union. The AEFCU gift will help us to keep our doors open and to provide programs, and serve as a resource to residents of the Farmington Valley and the greater Hartford area,” said Jay Kaplan, Director.

About Cash Back to the Community

Throughout 2020, AEFCU is donating one percent of its credit and debit card interchange income to three nonprofit and/or 501(c)(3) organizations each quarter through the Cash Back to the Community program. Funding for the program is generated each time its members use an American Eagle Financial Credit Union credit or debit card. At the end of each quarter, one percent of the total interchange income – the fee paid for credit and debit card transactions – is being distributed to the three top qualified nonprofits as voted on by a combination of the Credit Union’s members and the public.

Fourth Quarter Nominations - October 26 through November 15

Voting for fourth quarter nominees for Cash Back to the Community is October 26 through November 15, 2020, An organization only needs to be nominated once for consideration.

Fourth Quarter Voting - December 7 through 20

Voting for fourth quarter nominees for Cash Back to the Community is December 7-20, 2020, Please share the voting link with others. Members and nonmembers are welcome to vote. One vote per email address. Winners will be announced in early January 2021.