2024 Awards Gala

Thank You for Joining Us!

The Carolinas Credit Union Foundation welcomed more than 300 attendees to its inspirational Annual Awards Gala on February 12, 2025. Coastal CU Chief Community Impact and Public Affairs Officer Creighton Blackwell returned as emcee to lead the evening’s recognition of Hero Award honorees and state-level winners. we would like to thank our many generous sponsors below for making this event possible!

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2024 Hero Awards Honorees

Volunteer Lifetime Achievement Award

Jack Thornton, Board Chair
Summit Credit Union

About Jack Thornton

Jack Thornton assumed the role of Chairman of the Board at Summit Credit Union in 2002, after serving as a volunteer Board member for 15 years. During his 37-year tenure, Jack has achieved a number of accomplishments for the organization, including a CEO transition with the retirement of Elizabeth “Sis” Hamilton, a pioneer within the credit union industry. From developing a governance structure that ensures effective day-to-day process management to elevating the growth of the credit union through technology and product upgrades, mergers, and a strong executive leadership team; Jack’s influence has made such a significant impact. Jack exhibits many wonderful leadership characteristics: being quick to challenge the process, inspiring a shared vision, enabling others to act, modeling the way, and, most importantly, encouraging the heart. We congratulate Jack Thorton on his retirement as the Board Chair of Summit Credit Union after 22 years of volunteer service.

Partner in Philanthropy Award

SECU Foundation

About the SECU Foundation

The SECU Foundation is celebrating twenty years of impactful giving, and since 2004 has committed over $300 million in scholarships, grants, and loans to benefit North Carolinians in all 100 counties of the state. Created to help identify and address large scale community issues in the areas of education, housing, healthcare, and human services, SECU Foundation now stands as the largest charitable organization in the credit union industry and is funded exclusively by the members of State Employees’ Credit Union. Their collective $1 per month contributions have enabled SECU Foundation to amplify the credit union’s philanthropic efforts far beyond what was ever thought possible. The philanthropic support of SECU Foundation certainly demonstrates an impressive level of commitment to the credit union cooperative principles and our shared People Helping People philosophy. Each SECU Foundation grant, scholarship, or loan supports the financial and social needs of North Carolinians and the sustainable development of communities throughout the state.

Partner in Philanthropy Award

Members Credit Union

About Members Credit Union

Members Credit Union sought to form a new philanthropic partnership in 2023, specifically one that focuses on helping children and families experiencing health crisis. That search led Members to discover Children’s Cancer Partners of the Carolinas, a non-profit aiming to reduce barriers to childhood cancer care for all families in North Carolina and South Carolina. Over the past two years, the relationship between Members and CCP has grown into a powerful alliance. Together, the two organizations are helping ease the financial burden some families experience with known and hidden costs associated with their children receiving the necessary care and treatment after a cancer diagnosis. This shared commitment that supports children’s survival has yielded results that are inspiring! At the conclusion of Members Credit Union’s last campaign, nearly $70,000 has been raised for Children’s Cancer Partners of the Carolinas, showcasing our of People Helping People philosophy and exemplifying our cooperative principles by promoting solidarity, compassion, and collective action to improve the lives of local families facing adversity.

Advancing Equity Award

Ms. Louisiana Wright Sanders, Board Member
SRP FCU

About Louisiana Wright Sanders

Louisiana Wright Sanders’ personal story is one of determination, fortitude, and inspiration. Each step of Mrs. Wright Sanders’ career path can be depicted as one that paves the way for others that aspire to ascend with courage and confidence. Mrs. Wright Sanders championed equitable access and opportunities for everyone and understood the power of representation, specifically for people of color. Lou was one of the trailblazers for women of color to run for and secure a seat on SRP’s Board of Directors. After becoming a member of the Board, Mrs. Wright Sanders continued her advocacy work by championing fair and equal pay for all SRP team members and spearheading an initiative to allocate funds in the credit union’s budget to offer financial literacy to members of color with the hopes of improving their chances of loan approval. Mrs. Wright Sanders recognized that in order for this and similar work to continue, more people of color needed a seat at the table. As a result, she continues to actively recruit for those seats and lift as she climbs. These are just a few examples of ways Mrs. Wright Sanders makes an impact and it is in that spirit that we are awarding Mrs. Louisiana Wright Sanders as the recipient for the Advancing Equity Award.