Credit union boosts local nonprofits

• American Eagle seeks to help nonprofits soar

By Bruce Deckert

Today Magazine Editor-in-Chief

To boost local nonprofits and the residents they serve, American Eagle Financial Credit Union is continuing to give back to the community in 2021.

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American Eagle has donated nearly $25,000 to three new recipients through its Cash Back to the Community Program. The newest recipients are Healing Meals Community Project, Dog Star Rescue and Farmington-based Friends of Music. Each nonprofit received a donation of $8,000-plus.

American Eagle began its Cash Back to the Community Program in January 2020 and so far has supported 12 local nonprofits with more than $86,400 overall. American Eagle commits 1 percent of its credit and debit card interchange per quarter to the program.

Each quarter, three nonprofits receive a monetary donation — with the goal of continuing American Eagle's "tradition of putting philanthropy into action to help create safer, healthier and more vibrant communities," according to a company spokesperson.

American Eagle invites its members and the general public to help decide, by voting, the worthy nonprofits that receive donations every three months.

The Friends of Music organization supports music education in the Farmington Public Schools. The Bloomfield-based Healing Meals outfit delivers healthy meals to those facing a medical crisis. Dog Star Rescue, also of Bloomfield, works to save stray and sheltered dogs.

Nonprofits have been impacted by the COVID pandemic's financial effects, and American Eagle president Dean Marchessault is glad that his company can help remedy that predicament.

"Our recipients make a difference in our members’ communities every single day," he says, "and as Connecticut’s largest community-focused credit union, we’re thrilled that we are able to support these deserving organizations and connect our members and the public to our philanthropic efforts."

American Eagle has numerous branches across Greater Hartford, including Farmington and Avon in the Farmington Valley. +

• Sources – American Eagle Financial Credit Union • nonprofit websites

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