Press Release

FAIRWINDS Foundation Partners with Central Florida Urban League
Partnership to fund Financial Literacy Initiative

ORLANDO, FL – FAIRWINDS Foundation, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that serves as the philanthropic arm of FAIRWINDS Credit Union, today announced a partnership with the Central Florida Urban League (CFUL). Under the new agreement, the Foundation will contribute $30,000 and employee volunteers from FAIRWINDS to support the CFUL’s Meet the Bankers initiative, a program designed to provide a detailed path to financial stability and home ownership through education.

Launched in 2018, the Meet the Bankers pilot program afforded 100 unbanked, low-to-moderate income individuals the opportunity to consult one-on-one with a representative from a financial institution. Beyond empowering participants to establish and pursue their financial goals, the time spent with a banker also led to the establishment of, or reestablishment of, trust in employees of the financial sector, a critical metric for measuring the financial health of a community. In partnering with the CFUL team, FAIRWINDS Foundation will provide invaluable financial and educational support to the program as it continues to evolve.

“As the lingering effects of widespread financial illiteracy disproportionately affect the most vulnerable members of the community, it’s our duty to help individuals plan for their future – both for the sake of their own families and for those of their friends and neighbors,” said Glenton Gilzean, Jr., president and CEO of CFUL. “We are excited to work with FAIRWINDS Foundation to achieve our mission of equipping Central Floridians with the tools they need to be financially healthy and literate.”

As part of the agreement, FAIRWINDS Credit Union employees will be tapped to lead financial literacy workshops to teach program participants to develop efficient household budgets, create savings plans, manage debt, formulate strategic investment decisions for themselves and their families and avoid common pitfalls such as predatory loans.

“Thanks to the generosity of the FAIRWINDS Foundation, the Central Florida Urban League now has even more tools to improve lives through education,” said Orlando Commissioner Regina Hill. “Partnerships like this bring an even greater impact to Orlando’s new Blueprint 2.0 program that connects residents to job and training opportunities.”

“Due to its standing in the community, Central Florida Urban League is uniquely positioned to provide guidance on the critical issue of financial literacy,” said Elisha González, vice president of community relations and government affairs at FAIRWINDS Credit Union and executive director of the FAIRWINDS Foundation. “As their work perfectly complements the mission and vision of the FAIRWINDS Foundation, this partnership represents a natural next step for our team as we work to promote responsibility, security and freedom in the communities we serve.”

About FAIRWINDS Foundation

The FAIRWINDS Foundation, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, is dedicated to helping individuals achieve a path toward financial responsibility, security and freedom, and inspiring them to transform the lives of others by living generously.

Through education, financial contribution and volunteerism, the Foundation works with and supports organizations that align with its passion of improving lives through financial literacy.

For more information, visit www.fairwinds.org/foundation.

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