From small things, big things grow. Like a seed that turns into a giant redwood, the little choices we make and small steps we take have a larger impact. The minor things many take for granted are the foundation of something greater and, dare I say, very important for how we build a team, a credit union, and a community. By helping each other, encouraging each other, and supporting each other through good times and bad we build, we grow, we get stronger. The key term, of course, is we. What we build is a culmination of many people, ideas, skills, backgrounds and so on. We build Freedom together but also with our community and our members. Even though the saying is “if you build it, they will come”, I believe it’s more:
If you build it, they may come. If you build it with them, they’re already here.
At what point in our evolution as a society was the decision made to discard trash anywhere you like: out the window of a car, gum spat on a sidewalk, cans/bottles left wherever they were emptied down a gullet? Was there a vote?
The other day I was walking with my son through the neighborhood. There was an empty box of candy in the grass and without a word, he bent down and picked it up. Before we got back home where he threw it in the trash can, I said, as if he was still a child, “why’d you pick that up? You don’t know where it’s been.” He held it up and said, “if everyone just did one little thing, the world would be a better place”. I found that moment very profound. A lesson learned somewhere along the way and an attitude that can inspire.
So, when I talk about how Freedom is built to put people first, to improve our community, to do good, it’s in the hope others might be motivated to act in kind and, in turn, do business with us so we can continue that mission. After all, one person can make a difference, why shouldn’t Freedom.
Balancing a personal life with a career can be a lifelong struggle. Work obligations, stresses and interruptions can impinge on the time you spend with family, friends and pursuing your own interests. On the flip side, family and other personal obligations can interrupt work responsibilities and professional goals. Fortunately, the perfect work-life balance is not a myth. All it takes is some focused prioritizing and practical measures.
Prioritize Your Time – The first step in achieving the perfect work-life balance is deciding what is most important to you. If your goal is to spend more time with your family, you may need to cut back on work hours or delegate some responsibilities to your team members. If you feel like you’re neglecting your work, you may need to set aside more time for focused work. To do this, you may need to create a schedule that establishes specific times for work, exercise, family time and self-care. Stick to your schedule as much as possible to ensure you’re using your time effectively.
Practice Mindfulness – When your mind is pulled in two different directions, you can feel unfocused and unsettled. Instead, try to practice mindfulness, which allows you to be present in the moment and avoid distractions. Start by taking a few minutes each day to meditate or practice deep breathing. This will help you clear your mind and reduce stress. You can also take breaks throughout the workday to stretch, meditate or take a walk. This will help you stay focused and avoid burnout.
Carve Out Time for Self-Care – Self-care is an essential component of the perfect work-life balance. Consider scheduling it into your daily routine so you never forget to incorporate it into your day. Self-care can include anything that relaxes and recharges you, like exercise, reading or spending time with friends and family.
Be Flexible – Life is unpredictable, and you’ll inevitably face unexpected challenges and responsibilities. To be flexible, learn to adapt to changes in your schedule or plans. Be willing to adjust your priorities when necessary, and don’t be too hard on yourself if things don’t go exactly as planned.
Follow these tips to achieve that elusive work-life balance.
The New Swan Creek Location in Ames Plaza Shopping Center Officially Opens on April 26th
Freedom Federal Credit Union’s new Swan Creek Branch is conveniently located in Havre de Grace on Pulaski Highway close to Aberdeen, APG, and many local Havre de Grace businesses and residential neighborhoods.
Havre de Grace, MD – Freedom Federal Credit Union will be relocating their Swan Creek branch in Havre de Grace branch to a new full-service location less than half a mile away. The new Swan Creek branch will be located at 2025 Pulaski Highway in Ames Plaza Shopping Center, adjacent to Seidenberg Protzko Eye Associates, Harford County’s Office of Economic Development, The GroundFloor, Swan Creek Veterinary Clinic, Upper Chesapeake Health Outpatient Offices, among many other local businesses.
The branch features a full-service lobby and a two-lane drive-thru, a 24/7 drive-up ATM, a free coin machine for members, provides ample parking, and allows for easy traffic flow and access. Financial Service Representatives will be in-person, and onsite, to support all business and individual banking needs.
Emily Abts has been appointed the location’s new Branch Manager. Abts has been a Freedom team member for almost seven years, most recently serving as Assistant Branch Manager at the former Swan Creek location in Havre de Grace since 2021. Abts has earned a reputation for her cheerful disposition and reliable expertise.
Abts and her team are looking forward to the move. “The new branch is going to be a real bonus to our members,” stated Abts. “It’s more accessible, and I know our members are going to appreciate the efficiency and ease of having a drive-thru, along with all the other amenities we’re planning to offer at our new location.”
“We want our members to know that we’ve listened to their feedback and are committed to exceptional member service. This new branch is absolutely a reflection of that commitment. We can’t wait to see our friends, old and new, walk through the doors and see it for themselves,” commented Abts.
Thanks to the branch’s larger footprint, Freedom is planning to offer a wider array of financial services to its members. Those plans will be finalized in the coming months. The branch will hold its first Community Shred Day from 9am – 12pm on Saturday, June 3rd, where anyone can bring up to four boxes of financial documents to safely shred on site for free. The Credit Union will also be hosting a family-friendly celebration in honor of its grand opening and celebrating 70 years of service to the community on May 20th from 10am-1pm.
The new branch will be open on April 26th at 9am. In preparation for the move, the former location in the Swan Harbor Village shopping center will be closed April 24th and April 25th.
“Even as we continue to invest in technology that makes access to banking easier and more available from anywhere, we have not lost sight of the importance of the human connection,” Mike MacPherson, Freedom’s President and CEO, shared in a statement. “The relocation of our Swan Creek branch to a bigger and better location is part of our commitment to enhance and provide the best in-person member experience.”
You know what some of my favorite things are? When two people are walking down the sidewalk side by side and another couple approaches also walking side by side, I like when someone from each pair goes in front or behind the other, single file, so passing is easy. I like it when I see people walking through a parking lot, picking up trash and properly disposing of it even though it isn’t their trash.
Know what else? I like it when you hold a door for someone, and they say thank you or when you let someone in in front of you while driving and they give you a wave of appreciation. I think I like these things more than ever because they seem to be getting rarer and rarer. They shouldn’t be rare. They should be commonplace, common courtesy, common sense, whatever you want to label it.
It sometimes seems human beings have become an entitled bunch. Can’t get to the front fast enough, can’t wait, can’t understand, can’t talk, can’t empathize. As the Beatles song goes, “All through the day, I, me, mine. I, me, mine, I, me, mine”. I realize that doesn’t apply to everyone, but it sure seems more frequent than ever.
That’s why, at Freedom, we emphasize the little things. A greeting, a smile, a pleasant tone, a commitment to help, to serve and deliver a positive experience even if the face of difficult times. We can’t change the world, but we can do our part, and by our example, we encourage others to do the same.
We are now accepting entries for this year’s Golden Apple Educator Award! Entrants must be a Freedom Member* and an employee at a Harford or Baltimore County school (public or private).
1. TWO First Place – $2,000 Awards 2. TWO Second Place – $1,000 Awards 3. TWO First Runner-Up – $500 Awards 4. TWO Second Runner-Up $500 Awards
To enter, submit an entry form and essay. The essay must describe how you would use the funds and why you should be the one to win! Scoring favors proposals demonstrating the greatest impact on local schools, classes, students, and/or the community at large.
Freedom Federal Credit Union is pleased to offer EIGHT Annual Educator Awards of $2,000, $1,000, $500 and $500, four each to Harford and Baltimore County Education Employees who may be a deserving teacher, school administrator or school support employee.
Scoring favors the idea with the greatest impact on local students, classes, schools, and/or the local community.
To enter, complete the entry form and submit an essay that explains why you deserve the award. Your essay may address any or all of the following questions:
What is your plan to benefit your students, your class or your school? How will this money help you implement your plan?
Will you take a continuing education class or classes to improve your own education and expertise? (Please be specific.) How will your education improve your students’ learning?
Will you purchase supplies for your school or classroom? How will the supplies help improve student learning? (Please provide as many quantitative details as possible.)
Will your plan, training, or purchases affect the Harford County Community? If yes, how so?
The Freedom to Help Foundation was Established to Further Expand the Credit Union’s Efforts to Support Baltimore and Harford County Communities and Charitable Organizations
January 18, 2023 Bel Air, MD – Freedom Federal Credit Union announced today it has established The Freedom to Help Foundation to further its commitment to community support and to give back to the people, the organizations, and the communities it serves within Baltimore and Harford Counties.
Going forward, all community outreach and financial support will now flow through the Foundation. The Freedom to Help Foundation will collaborate with organizations and community partners who align with Freedom’s mission and community focus areas. Additionally, all existing financial support, like sponsorships, grants, donations, scholarship programs, to name a few, will be funded and managed as programs of The Freedom to Help Foundation.
“As Freedom has continued to grow, so too has our commitment to the people and organizations that do so much good in our shared communities”, said Mike MacPherson, President and CEO of Freedom Federal Credit Union. Establishing The Freedom to Help Foundation takes our commitment to do good in the community to another level. And it also allows others to share in the good we do. The Foundation creates an opportunity for our business and community partners, members, and employees to take part and join us in our philanthropic initiatives. Together, we can accomplish more, and do more, for those in need”.
The Freedom to Help Foundation has been incorporated as a 501 (c)3 non-profit, separate from the Credit Union, whose mission is to enrich the communities we serve, empower individual success through education, provide resources for health and wellness, and to support our military and their families.
The Foundation is governed by a separate volunteer Board of Directors, functioning independent from the Credit Union. This Board will oversee the review and approval of all financial support considerations on how funds are distributed for community support based on the needs of Baltimore and Harford County communities and their philanthropic organizations.
Additionally, the Credit Union’s Community Outreach Committee, which oversees all volunteer efforts, will now be a part of the Foundation.
“In the last five years, Freedom Federal Credit Union has supported over 80+ organizations annually with over $1.0M of financial support during that time”, said MacPherson. “The Freedom to Help Foundation will allow us to grow that support in ways we could not even dream before”.
The Freedom to Help Foundation will officially launch this month, and there will be more information to share very soon regarding some great initiatives that are planned for 2023.
About The Freedom to Help Foundation
The Freedom to Help Foundation supports Freedom Federal Credit Union’s commitment to the people and communities of Baltimore and Harford Counties. Established in January 2023, the Foundation’s mission is to enrich the communities we serve, empower individual success through education, provide resources for health and wellness, and to support our military and their families. Learn more at freedomfcu.org/foundation.
About Freedom Federal Credit Union
Freedom Federal Credit Union is a community-chartered federal credit union offering consumer financial services to those who live, work, volunteer, worship, attend school, or have family in Harford and Baltimore County. Additionally, Freedom offers a full-line of banking services for all businesses, associations, and other organizations that are based in Harford or Baltimore County. Freedom has been in business since 1953 and has six locations throughout Harford and Baltimore County. To learn more, visit freedomfcu.org.
Thanks to long-standing philanthropic partner, Freedom Federal Credit Union for $30,000 pledge
Freedom Federal Credit Union representatives (L to R) Carmen David Mirabile, Freedom Senior Vice President of Marketing, Patrice Ricciardi, Senior Director Business Development, and Michael MacPherson, President and Chief Executive Officer present a check to MedStar Health’s Stuart Levine, MD, FACP, President and Senior Vice President, and Leah Murray, MHA, Director of Philanthropy Education.
BALTIMORE – (December 29, 2022) A $30,000 pledge by Freedom Federal Credit Union has made possible the opening of “Square Fitness,” an associate gym at MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center, to support the emotional and physical well-being of hospital employees.
Michael MacPherson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Freedom, along with Carmen David Mirabile, Freedom Senior Vice President of Marketing and Patrice Ricciardi, Senior Director Business Development, presented a giant check representing the commitment on Sept. 7th to hospital President and Senior Vice President of MedStar Health, Stuart Levine, MD, FACP.
“This means so much to me and my family,” said Dr. Levine, whose family also contributed to the costs of the gym. “But more importantly, it means so much to our associates, and to our learners, our residents, and our medical students. This is something that our internal community has asked for, for years. It far predates when I came here as president. I couldn’t be more pleased to celebrate the opening of this facility for our care providers.”
The gym, open to all MedStar associates, is located on the second floor of the hospital. It features two treadmills, ellipticals, bikes, strength-training fusion trainers, weight benches, along with one rower, a set of free weights, and a water bottle filling station. All equipment is from NordicTrack’s commercial line and will be linked to iFIT® technology, allowing access to fitness classes, structured workouts, and instruction.
“This type of endeavor, this gym, it’s more than just the physical equipment, it’s about the emotional health, the mental impact on members of our community. This was an opportunity to do something meaningful for MedStar associates, and that’s what this partnership is all about,” MacPherson said.
Freedom Federal Credit Union provides financial products and services in Harford and Baltimore County and is a long-time philanthropic partner to MedStar Health. The not-for-profit previously supported patient-centered initiatives at the MedStar Health Bel Air Medical Campus.
About MedStar Health
At MedStar Health, we use the best of our minds and the best of our hearts to serve our patients, those who care for them, and our communities. Our 30,000 associates and 4,700 affiliated physicians are committed to living this promise through our core SPIRIT values—Service, Patient first, Integrity, Respect, Innovation, and Teamwork—across our more than 300 locations including 10 hospitals, ambulatory, and urgent care centers. As the medical education and clinical partner of Georgetown University, MedStar Health is training future physician leaders to care for the whole person and is advancing care through the MedStar Health Research Institute. From our telemedicine and urgent care services to the region’s largest home health agency, we’re committed to providing high-quality health care that’s also easy and convenient for our patients. At MedStar Health—It’s how we treat people. Learn more at MedStarHealth.org.
About Freedom Federal Credit Union
Freedom Federal Credit Union is a community-chartered federal credit union offering consumer financial services to those who live, work, volunteer, worship, attend school, or have family in Harford and Baltimore County. Additionally, Freedom offers a full-line of banking services for all businesses, associations, and other organizations that are based in Harford or Baltimore County. Freedom has been in business since 1953 and has six locations throughout Harford and Baltimore County. To learn more, visit freedomfcu.org.
