LATHAM — The Sunmark Charitable Community Foundation (Sunmark Foundation) today announced the recipients of the fourth annual ICU Awards. In celebration of International Credit Union Day (ICU Day), which is celebrated on the third Thursday of October and celebrates the spirit of the global credit union movement, the Sunmark Foundation honors individuals and organizations that have contributed their time, talent, or treasure to better our communities, living out the credit union philosophy of people helping people.
The three recipients of the People Helping People recognition include Safe Inc. of Schenectady; Black Diamonds Academic Success, Inc.; and Night Out For You, Inc. Each organization was presented with a $5,000 donation from the Sunmark Foundation to assist them in their mission.
The Susan V. Siegel Community Service Leader Award – presented to an individual who has made a meaningful contribution to their community – was awarded to Cheryl Hage Perez of the Veterans & Community Housing Coalition. As the recipient of the award, the Sunmark Foundation will present a $2,500 donation to Veterans & Community Housing Coalition.
This year, the Sunmark Foundation introduced the It’s Cool to be Kind Student Leader Award. This honor awards $2,500 to the charity of choice of one current student, 18 or younger, who has made a meaningful contribution to their community through donation of time, talent or treasure. Ella Schoenborn of Projectella was presented with a $2,500 donation.
Audrey Stone, Sunmark Credit Union’s Community Engagement Program Manager, said, “Over the past four years, the Sunmark Charitable Community Foundation has been recognizing the credit union mission of ‘people helping people’ by giving back to individuals and organizations making a difference through our ICU Awards program. In 2022, we’ve been able to expand upon this program to honor not only organizations and individuals, but also students who are already experiencing the impact that giving back and doing good can make in the lives of so many in our communities. We are excited to recognize these outstanding causes and provide them with additional funding they need to continue to make their mark.”
Sunmark Credit Union and the Sunmark Charitable Community Foundation will be honoring 2022 ICU Award recipients at a luncheon on Thursday, Oct. 27, at 11:30 a.m. at Brown’s Revolution Hall in Troy.
