Lenexa-based CommunityAmerica Credit Union today announced that it has formally established the CommunityAmerica Foundation administered by the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation.
The CommunityAmerica Foundation will work to transform the lives of Kansas City families within the credit union’s field of membership, helping them attain long-term success and independence through financial literacy and empowerment, a spokesman said.
“The formation of our foundation highlights CommunityAmerica’s calling to build financial success together with Kansas Citians,” said Dennis Pierce, CommunityAmerica CEO. “Our credit union has worked with countless families during its nearly 75 years of operation, helping them achieve financial success — and this foundation is a natural extension of this commitment.”
The CommunityAmerica Foundation’s first step will be to launch a signature program – Family Financial Transformations – working with Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas. The program will support selected families in the Catholic Charities’ network within CommunityAmerica’s field of membership, helping them stabilize and take steps toward true financial freedom. Family Financial Transformations will work with the families on established education and stabilization criteria, equipping them with real-world resources and skill sets for long-term success.
“Participants in the Family Financial Transformation Program will work with a team of professionals from CommunityAmerica Credit Union and Catholic Charities of NE Kansas that are committed to enabling them to reach self-sufficiency. Participants will be involved in intensive case management and financial literacy programming including a personal financial coach. We’re excited and privileged to be working alongside our CommunityAmerica partners to help break the generational cycles of debt in our community,” said Ken Williams, Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas president and CEO.
“Once a family gets in over its head, it struggles with the basic tenets for financial success such as savings, timely payment of bills, etc.,” Pierce said. “Family Financial Transformations™ will be there to provide comprehensive counseling, case management and financial classes for local families who need assistance in achieving a fresh start.”
The CommunityAmerica Foundation expects this signature program to expand its reach and impact after evaluating the program’s first full year in operation.
“CommunityAmerica believes in the potential of every family, knowing nobody is immune to tough times, and through this program we have the unique opportunity to ensure that the tough times aren’t the defining times,” Pierce added.
The CommunityAmerica Foundation may also consider other grant requests that align with its financial literacy mission beginning January 2015. Nonprofit organizations who wish to apply for a grant may contact Mayra Aguirre at 816-627-3426 or [email protected].