Synergent looks forward to again sponsoring the Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger $100,000 Challenge as part of our signature social responsibility initiative. Launching on October 1, this will be the fifth year of this month-long fundraiser to benefit programs in our home state of Maine.
What Is the Campaign for Ending Hunger?
Aligned with the shared principle of coming together to give back to their communities, credit unions across our state collectively participate in the Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger. This signature social responsibility campaign is the largest, non-hunger organization-based philanthropic fundraising effort to end hunger in Maine.
Since the program’s inception in 1990, over $13.5 million has been raised. In 2023 alone, credit unions contributed $1,221,868.94 to combat hunger. The amount includes food donations and contributions made by credit unions directly to hunger-relief organizations.
Funding comes from four sources:
- Credit Unions: Dollars raised by individual credit unions through fundraising activities such as payroll deduction, matching campaigns, raffles, sweepstakes, and events.
- Credit Union Chapters: Dollars raised by Maine’s eight credit union chapters from golf outings, auctions, and other activities.
- Maine Credit Union League/Synergent: Dollars raised by the Maine Credit Union League/Synergent from golf tournaments, auctions, and other activities.
- Other: Dollars raised from corporations (both in and outside Maine), individuals, vendors, and others who share our commitment to ending hunger.
The Campaign’s distributions are allocated to four primary categories: local food pantries, meal sites, schools, and Good Shepherd Food Bank. Specific to the $100,000 Challenge, as has been done in years past, 25% percent of funds raised online during the month of October will benefit Good Shepherd Food Bank.
New this year, the Campaign will also be raising money to support a pilot backpack program for Special Olympics Maine. This innovative initiative will help meet the needs of Special Olympics athletes who are facing food insecurity while also providing them an opportunity to give back to their communities. The Campaign has a goal to raise $10,000 (or more) for Special Olympics Maine as part of our $100,000 Challenge. Special Olympics Maine will identify an individualized education program at a local school and/or day habilitation program – one in each county – to work with on this initiative.
Ending Hunger Challenge Moves to October
Formerly held in June, the Challenge was shifted to October to align with International Credit Union Day—an occasion when our global movement will come together to celebrate One World Through Cooperative Finance. The ultimate goal of this special day is to raise awareness about the tremendous work that credit unions are doing around the world and in their communities. The Ending Hunger Campaign and the $100,000 Challenge are excellent examples of this.
Accept the Challenge
Join us in supporting the Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger $100,000 Challenge. Pledge your donation today and add your name to the Challenge Contributors page. Be the first to get your logo added to the Blueberry Pie à la Mode or Soup & Salad levels. Donations can be made online at https://campaignforendinghunger.org/donate/ or via check. Checks can be made out to the Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger and mailed to:
Maine Credit Union League
P.O. Box 1236
Portland, ME 04104