Farmington Hills Credit Union Employees 'Give Big'

More than 400 Community Choice Credit Union employees and their family members spent the past three days volunteering with organizations across metropolitan Detroit, as part of the company's annual "Give Big Weekend". 

The event, and a year-round emphasis on charity, has made a big impact on Greg Coury, who handles residential mortgages for the credit union. He has been especially touched by activities that involve food banks and soup kitchens. 

"Forgotten Harvest got me emotional," he said. "Feeding people is my heart." 

From Sept. 12-15, Community Choice employees hosted an American Red Cross blood drive, helped at Gleaners and Forgotten Harvest food banks, cleaned up Milford Park and volunteered for Vista Maria Women’s Shelter, Detroit Zoological Society and the Community Choice Foundation. 

Gleaners has named the credit union among its top 20 volunteer groups, a list that includes much larger companies like General Motors and Chrysler.

Coury said the culture at Community Choice is "upside down corporate America", because members are owners. "We serve them with a different attitude," he said, including an emphasis on personal service, discounts on services and lower rates and fees. 

"We all participate as a team in community events," he added. "The leadership is genuine and honest, and that permeates down to the front line." 

"Senior managers talk about the 'virtuous circle'," said Jeffrey DiGiannantonio, marketing communications specialist for the credit union. "It's in our best interest to give back to the community, because we all live and work here."