News & Tips

We commemorated our 70th anniversary with a focus on kindness by giving away more than $30,000 to our members and communities throughout our service area along Florida’s east coast. The celebrations began on June 7, the date SCCU founded in 1951, and ran for 70 days with daily drawings, surprise community giveaways, and a “Spread Kindness Sweepstakes” offering a cash grand prize.

“We were founded on the principle of delivering exceptional service and existing solely to serve our membership,” said Timothy M. Antonition, President and CEO of SCCU. “We wanted to echo that dedication for our 70th anniversary by giving back to our members and communities and encouraging them to join us in spreading kindness.”

We kicked off the festivities by giving away over $2,000 to members who happened to call the Member Service Center on June 7, each winning $70, and continuing those giveaways throughout the celebration period by randomly selecting a new member each day to award $70. In addition, both members and non-members were invited to enter the “Spread Kindness Sweepstakes” for a chance to win $1,951 (representing the year SCCU began). Each week, we featured a different kindness tip, such as paying for the order behind you in a drive-thru, volunteering to clean up a public park or beach, or mowing your neighbor’s lawn. A total of 25,782 people entered the sweepstakes by pledging to perform random acts of kindness for 70 days, far exceeding our modest goal of 7,070 pledges. 

The kindness marathon continued with our Team Members venturing out into their local communities with over $17,500 in pre-loaded grocery and gas gift cards, surprising and delighting passers-by in person. Additionally, we donated $1,800 worth of coffee to medical staff and $600 worth of flowers to patients at Kendall Regional Medical Center in Miami; and $500 went to Broward Partnership, a homeless shelter in Fort Lauderdale, along with 50 personal care kits filled with socks, snacks, and toiletry items. 

“It felt so nice being able to make someone’s day better with a fresh cup of coffee,” said Tiffany Simmons, an SCCU Branch Manager. After SCCU bought a $2,150 tab at Indian River Coffee Company in Melbourne, Simmons and three colleagues helped the staff hand out cups of coffee and pastries to the café’s customers free of charge. 

Extending the love to four-legged friends, we donated $1,000 to the Pawsibilities Rescue Group, an animal rescue organization in Port Orange; and $1,000 went to Brevard Humane Society along with a basketful of items for the shelter. Southeast Volusia Humane Society, Halifax Humane Society in Daytona Beach, Flagler Humane Society in Palm Coast, and Pawsibilities each received adoption gift bags filled with collapsible water bowls, toys, treats, bandanas, dog leads, and waste bag dispensers.

As the 70-day celebration came to a close, Brad Humphreville, who has been an SCCU member for 18 years, was drawn as the “Spread Kindness Sweepstakes” winner. He was thrilled to win the prize from his favorite place to bank, stating, “I love that SCCU gives you all the convenience and services of a large bank while still retaining that small hometown charm that puts members first.”