While in D.C. for the Governmental Affairs Conference, ORNL Federal Credit Union employees and Credit Union Development Education (CUDE) program graduates took time to volunteer at the DC Central Kitchen.
We at the Association loved the community aspect, so we reached out to learn more!
ORNL FCU CEO Jenny Vipperman is on the board for the National Credit Union Foundation (NCUF), and since her onboarding in October 2023, she has been a champion of the CUDE program. Prior to Jenny’s arrival, ORNL FCU had never sent anyone through the Credit Union Development Education (CUDE) program. Since 2024, we’ve had nine employees who’ve received the DE designation with more participants on the way!
We are in the process of building an internal CUDE team to not only encourage employee participation in the DE program, but to identify and participate in meaningful community service projects.
This community service project originated because of Jenny’s thoughtful support and inspiration. She encouraged the current CUDE graduates to research organizations in the DC area for our first CUDE team volunteer activity. We’re hoping to make this an annual activity.
The CUDEs researched a wide range of nonprofit organizations serving the local community, focusing on those whose work aligns closely with credit union values: strengthening financial well-being, expanding access to essential services, and supporting individuals and families facing economic hardship. After reviewing numerous options and assessing their mission, impact potential, and capacity for short-term group volunteer engagement, we identified two organizations that we felt were best suited for our volunteer initiative.
Both organizations exemplified service, dignity, and empowerment—values echoed in the credit union movement. Ultimately, the CUDEs went with DC Central Kitchen, which uses food as a tool to strengthen bodies, empower minds and build communities.
As participants in the CUDE program, we are entrusted with carrying forward the spirit of the credit union movement; one built on cooperation, inclusion, community uplift and the belief that people working together can create meaningful, lasting change.
CUDE challenges us to not only understand these principles but to actively live them out. It calls us to identify community needs, partner with mission-aligned organizations and demonstrate the “people helping people” philosophy in real, tangible ways.
