MD/DC Credit Union Foundation Scholarship Competition Concludes

Nine Freedom Members competed, out of almost 500 entries!

The CU Foundation MD/DC has concluded its 2016 Credit Union College Scholarship Competition. Twelve $1,000 scholarships were awarded in three categories; essay, video and photography.

Nearly 500 applications were submitted by members of over 70 MD – and DC – based credit unions. Submissions were scored by a group of 111 volunteer judges. Nine Freedom members entered the essay competition, but with stiff competition none garnered enough points to win a scholarship. Thanks to those members who took the time and effort to enter this year’s Competition!

The Credit Union College Scholarship Competition is a yearly event for the CU Foundation of MD/DC . Look for another Completion with another topic in spring of 2017.

The winning submissions may be viewed on the MD/DC Credit Union Foundation web site.

Charity Calendar Contest Brings Out Artist in Young Members

Kids 2017 Calendar Art Contest

Freedom is having a Kids’ Art Calendar contest to benefit the Greater Excellence in Education Foundation (GEEF)!

Enter your kid’s artwork by June 1, 2016 for a chance to have it published in our 2017 calendar. Each entry chosen for the calendar will win a great prize! To participate, kids must be a Freedom Youth Club Member.

“People Helping People”
Kids are asked to use the theme of “People Helping People” in their artwork. Demonstrate how Freedom achieves its mission of giving back to the community, or how we encourage members to meet their financial goals. Calendars will be available for free at our branches, although members will be asked to make a donation to GEEF in support of their annual school supply drive.

Artists Aged 4 – 17 Are Eligible to Enter
The three age groupings are: 4 – 7, 8 – 12, 13 – 17.
Twelve calendar entries will be chosen, one for each month, and four from each age group. Entries will be judged by a panel of Freedom employees, board members and volunteers. Winning artists chosen from the 4 – 7 age group will win a Nabi tablet; those from the 8 – 12 and 13 – 17 age groups will win a Kindle Fire.

In addition to the prizes for artwork chosen, three $50 drawing prizes will be awarded, one from each age group. Please see Contest Instructions and full Sweepstakes Rules. The Permission to Use Art form must be submitted with artwork, and is available online or in branches.

DID YOU KNOW: Where the idea for Credit Unions comes from?

How and Why Credit Unions Got Started

The idea for CREDIT UNIONS began in Germany in the mid-1800s when peasants were being charged unfair rates to borrow money from their landlords. They got together and pooled their resources to help each other. Then when someone needed to borrow they were able to lend the funds at a very reasonable rate. They got better rates on savings, too. They made enough to continue.

Credit Unions were born — for the benefit of all their members. People Helping People!

Freedom Federal Credit Union began as MATCOM in 1953 in Baltimore. We moved to Harford County in 1956 to what was then Edgewood Arsenal, the Army post, which later merged with Aberdeen Proving Ground. We still have a branch there today, serving the military and civilian employees of APG. Now we also have four additional branches, and a charter to serve all of Harford County.

What has not changed? The CREDIT UNION PHILOSOPHY! People Helping People. Charging fair rates on loans and credit cards, awarding fair dividends on savings. When our members participate fully, bringing all their banking needs to the credit union, we can do the most.

We are not the biggest or most well-known of Maryland’s Credit Unions, but we live in and know about Harford County. We take pride in our community and give back every way we can—through sponsorships, donations, scholarships, and employee volunteerism. If you, too, care about Harford County and helping your community, join us and be a part of something special!