DuPont Community Credit Union's Work with Local Animal Shelters Recognized with Community Service Award

WAYNESBORO, VA (11/05/2010)(readMedia)-- DuPont Community Credit Union has won 3rd Place in the state Dora Maxwell Social Responsibility Recognition Award Program for credit unions. The Social Responsibility Recognition Award Program, sponsored by the Virginia Credit Union League and the Credit Union National Association, honors credit unions for their involvement in community projects and activities.

With local animal shelters struggling to find donations, while dealing with an influx of pets turned out by cash-strapped families, DuPont Community Credit Union employees chose to support the work of the Shenandoah County Animal Shelter, the Greater Augusta Regional Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the Harrisonburg-Rockingham County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals during 2010.

With fundraisers throughout the year, the credit union and its members raised $10,949 for the SPCAs and animal shelter, while its "Cause for Paws" employee team promoted the mission of the three partner organizations, worked to raise awareness of the need for pet adoptions, collected items needed by the local animal shelters, and volunteered at the local shelters.

"Our staff and members really embraced this cause due to the increased number of abandoned pets coming into our local animal shelters as a result of the current economic conditions," said DuPont Community Credit Union President/CEO Gerald Hershey. "We were proud to assist our local SPCAs and animal shelters, not only financially, but in helping them spread their message about pet adoption and in providing volunteer assistance at the shelters."

The credit union's entry also noted the many studies that provide evidence of the benefits of having pets, including reduced stress, improved mood and encouragement to exercise.

DCCU is a not-for-profit financial cooperative and was founded in 1959. The Credit Union currently has over 57,000 members and more than $732 million in assets. DCCU operates nine branches in the Central Shenandoah Valley region. For more information visit our website at www.mydccu.com.

The competition is named after Dora Maxwell, a credit union pioneer, who worked with several organizations to improve the living standards of the poor and needy.