Community

With almost 15 years of working in a credit union under Maleia Brown’s belt, she knows how to help members with whatever financial issues or obstacles they face. Maleia is now the branch manager of PACU’s Advantage Way location. Once her then-branch manager moved to PACU, Maleia shortly followed in 2015 and has been here since.

As the PACU Foundation’s Annual Holiday Giving Campaign nears its end, we reflect on the many small acts of kindness and generosity from our members, employees and neighbors this year. Regardless of size, every donation went directly to programs that help residents in our communities overcome financial hardship.

In the spirit of holiday giving, Piedmont Advantage Credit Union’s Lending Department organized a toy drive for the Winston-Salem Police and Fire departments. The Advantage Way and Home Road branches collected toys from employees and community members for over a month. When the toy drive ended on December 10, PACU had two large boxes overflowing with donated toys.

In this second episode of Voices of Experience, we hear from three distinguished employees: Perry Crutchfield, Dorie Rickard and Kisha Dockery. They represent over 50 years of collective service to PACU and our members. Although Perry, Dorie, and Kisha come from different departments and backgrounds, they share countless stories and advice that can benefit everyone.

One thing that immediately stands out about Carrieanne Holt is her dedication to enhancing her community’s financial literacy. Her dedication is inspiring, igniting a spark in those around her to strive for economic empowerment. Carrieanne discovered her passion for teaching financial literacy, which eventually transferred to her career as manager of PACU’s Charlotte through volunteering in her community.

On Giving Tuesday, the PACU Foundation gifted $31,200 to six North Carolina charities to increase their capacity to help area residents overcome financial hardship. Since the foundation’s formation in 2020, it has gifted more than $100,000 to area charities.

In some shape or form, ornaments can symbolize the most important and memorable moments of the holiday season. That’s why each year, those who donate $10 or more to the PACU Foundation during our Annual Holiday Giving Campaign receive a commemorative ornament to hang on their tree and reflect on how giving back to the community brightens the holiday season.

During this season of gratitude, we traditionally gather with our families and loved ones to express our thankfulness for each other. Still, behind the scenes, a great deal of time, money, and teamwork is invested in any Thanksgiving dinner.

As we near the close of Piedmont Advantage Credit Union’s 75^th anniversary, there’s no better way to honor this milestone than by highlighting the voices of our longest-tenured employees. These individuals embody the commitment, resilience and sense of belonging that PACU has fostered for decades.

In the spirit of camaraderie and giving thanks, Piedmont Advantage Credit Union hosted its annual Friendsgiving Celebration on Thursday, Nov. 7. The celebration included good food, fellowship with colleagues and a presentation on the history and influential figures in Native American History. Thanksgiving is a great time to show gratitude, but it’s also a time to reflect on our history and how our country became what it is today.