Latino Community Credit Union Wins National Dora Maxwell Award (12/7/2009)

Latino Community Credit Union CEO Luis Pastor with the statewide Dora Maxwell Award. NCCUL honored Latino with the statewide award at the League's Annual Meeting in Pinehurst in June.

CUNA announced Friday that Latino Community Credit Union won the national Dora Maxwell Social Responsibility Award for its feature length film Angelica's Dreams. Latino was one of four NC credit unions to earn national recognition for social responsibility and commitment to credit union philosophy.

The annual Dora Maxwell Social Responsibility Award recognizes and promotes credit unions’ social responsibility efforts within the communities they serve. Credit unions enter the program in separate asset categories, which allows them to compete fairly against credit unions of equal size and resources. Latino won the award in the $50 to $100 million-asset category for Angelica’s Dreams, which was a film created to show community members the process that many Latino families experience when buying a home. The movie also helps Latino families better understand the financial services industry in America.

"These prestigious awards honor credit unions and their organizations for making commitments to innovative community involvement and to member financial education – both core values of the credit union pioneers whose names are associated with them. Our hope, at CUNA, is that other credit unions will take notice of the programs celebrated by these awards and find ways to emulate their best practices in their own communities," said Dan Mica, president and CEO of CUNA.

Maxwell was an original signer of CUNA’s constitution and a tireless organizer of hundreds of credit unions throughout the United States. She also developed volunteer organizer clubs and worked tirelessly with organizations on behalf of the poor.

NCCUL President/CEO John Radebaugh noted that Latino, "has long demonstrated a commitment to serving its members in unique and innovative ways. Angelica's Dreams is one of the many efforts the credit union has made to educate members about finances. The League congratulates the credit union on this wonderful, well-deserved recognition."   

Latino will receive its award February 24 at a reception during the CUNA Governmental Affairs Conference.