Putting the spirit in philanthropy
Spirit of Alaska Federal Credit Union named outstanding small business in philanthropy
By Tammy Tragis-McCook
Spirit of Alaska FCU and College of Business and Security Management employees gather with the Association of Fundraising Professionals award at the watch party. From left, they are Ben Udden, SOA vice president of core financial systems; Charlie Sparks, CSBM accounting and finance director; Anthony Rizk, SOA president and CEO; Mark Young, SOA board of directors member and CBSM Business Advisory Council chair; Sarah Geer, SOA marketing director; and John Lannet, SOA vice president of information technology.
There are many reasons to give: to show gratitude, to be a part of something, or to make a difference in the community. Spirit of Alaska FCU gives for all these reasons and was recently recognized for its generosity by the Association of Fundraising Professionals Alaska Chapter. Spirit of Alaska received the 2021 Outstanding Small Business in Philanthropy Award.
Mark Herrmann, dean of the ķƵ College of Business and Security Management, wrote the nomination letter for the AFP award.
“I feel that Spirit of Alaska FCU is deserving of this recognition because, more than making a profit, they are committed to the community,” said Herrmann. “They are a leader in the credit union industry, setting the example for others to follow. I feel they best represent the spirit and intent of the Alaska AFP Outstanding Small Business in Philanthropy Award.”
Established in 1960, Spirit of Alaska Federal Credit Union is the largest locally owned and operated credit union in Fairbanks. In the beginning, it was a small organization located in Constitution Hall’s Viking Room at the ķƵ. When it opened, SOA had $32, stored in a metal cash box.
With monetary donations, in-kind gifts and sponsorships, Spirit of Alaska FCU seeks to uplift the Fairbanks community. They believe community contributions of all kinds are important. For over a decade, SOA has provided support to dozens of nonprofit organizations, including the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association Heart Walk, Fairbanks Resource Agency, Fraternal Order of Alaska State Troopers, Green Star of Interior Alaska, Ice Alaska and many others.
Spirit of Alaska has contributed in numerous ways to area schools throughout the years. Specifically, SOA sponsors high-quality financial education to every public school in the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District, Monroe Catholic Schools and IDEA Homeschool. The company does this via Banzai’s free financial education for teachers, career fair participation, Get Real Financial Reality Fair volunteers, graduation party support for all high schools and the Gals Read program.
This kid is going places on this new bike presented by Anthony Rizk during Cheers for Gears.
Sarah Geer and this bicycle recipient are all smiles.
Through Youth Safety Day, SOA partners with other organizations, such as police and fire departments and scouting organizations, to educate the community about bike safety. Kids receive a free fitted bike helmet and get a chance to navigate the course. In line with the commitment to youth and fitness, SOA also hosts the Cheers for Gears program, providing gender-neutral bicycles to deserving youth in need selected by teachers.
Anthony Rizk, UAF alumnus ’90, ’97, presents a check to ķƵ Chancellor Dan White at a Greater Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce meeting.
In the higher-education realm, SOA supports Nanook basketball and hockey, and the UAF Blue & Gold Celebration. SOA is a major contributor to UA Giving Day, this year offering a $26,500 challenge leveraging additional gifts from UAF alumni. SOA is a dedicated partner to the College of Business and Security Management in areas like the Business Leader of the Year, Student Investment Fund and Professionally Polished programs, and it has a project in the works to renovate a learning center to accommodate the changing needs of students.
With a pre-pandemic trip sponsored by Spirit of Alaska, Student Investment Fund students took their education out of the classroom and on the road on Fifth Avenue in New York City to participate in a national competition.
SOA provides funding for seven $2,500 scholarships for CBSM students. This type of funding helps alleviate student debt, allowing busier-than-ever students to focus on their studies.
Spirit of Alaska FCU embodies what it means to give back to the community through philanthropic gifts, volunteerism and industry leadership. Congratulations to SOA for their well-deserved AFP Alaska Outstanding Small Business in Philanthropy Award.
With the AFP award ceremony taking place virtually, SOA partnered with CBSM to host a small watch party. This is the big moment when the AFP Outstanding Small Business in Philanthropy Award was announced.
Screen shot of the AFP Outstanding Small Business in Philanthropy Award announcement.
“I’m not sure if the credit union has ever won something like this before, but it sure is an honor,” Rizk said. “We’ve had a lot of partnerships over the years. We look for areas where we can make a difference in the community where someone hasn’t.”
Check out the video below, which premiered at the AFP award ceremony highlighting Spirit of Alaska’s philanthropy.
Video by Matt Waliszek - Orzel Photography