This year marks the 70th anniversary of ICU Day, celebrated annually on the third Thursday of October and will take place this year on Oct. 18.
This year's ICU Day theme combines the traditional gift of platinum for 70th anniversaries, a play on the saying "every cloud has a silver lining" and a celebration of the platinum-lined differences and impact credit union and other financial cooperatives have made and continue to make for their members and communities.
Through ICU Day festivities worldwide, credit unions raise awareness through outreach and volunteering in the community, organizing contests, charitable fundraisers, and open houses, ultimately contributing to World Council's Vision 2020 goal of adding 50 million new members by the year 2020.
The ICU Day logos and posters in English and Spanish, as well as celebration ideas and other tips to create unique, memorable member experiences to help celebrate ICU Day are available here. Credit union and financial cooperative representatives and members everywhere are encouraged to share photos, events, experiences and other festivity ideas on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn using #ICUDay.
The Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions, the charitable arm of the World Council of Credit Unions, urges credit unions everywhere to expand the footprint of their efforts to improve member's lives at home and abroad through a new initiative: the 2018 International Credit Union (ICU) Day Challenge.
Support. Help the Worldwide Foundation raise $70,000 across the movement to grow the footprint of international development through digital financial inclusion, ag. lending, leadership development and other programs.
Serve. Go out into your communities, bring your co-workers, family and friends, and help contribute over 7,000 hours of volunteerism to charities whose mission are to address one or several of these development issues that are affecting your member's lives.
Share. Showcase the power of the credit union movement by sharing your financial support, volunteerism, and celebrations through the World Council and your credit union's social media platforms. Inflate the goal of 700 posts, tweets, and shares by using #ICUDAY and #PLATINUMLININGFOUND and World Council's handle @WOCCU.
Employees and members alike can participate by ditching that stop to the local coffee shop and taking the Mugshot Challenge, where people are challenged to donate the price of a cup of coffee/tea to the Worldwide Foundation and take a selfie with their homemade beverage to highlight their good work. The challenge is fully online, and donations can be made at woccu.org/give.