Central Willamette Credit Union (CWCU), Â鶹ÊÓƵ (Â鶹ÊÓƵ), and the Â鶹ÊÓƵ Foundation (Â鶹ÊÓƵF) are proud to launch the Roadrunner Debit Card, a new initiative designed to support Â鶹ÊÓƵ students through scholarships and emergency funding. Three cents of every purchase with the card will be donated back to Â鶹ÊÓƵ—at no extra cost to cardholders. This means with every swipe or tap of this new Community Impact Card, members can make a tangible difference in the lives of local students.

This innovative program will provide unrestricted funds to the Â鶹ÊÓƵ Foundation, directly benefiting students through scholarships, emergency assistance, and program support. Each year, more than 14,000 students take at least one class at Â鶹ÊÓƵ, and about 25% of local high school graduates choose Â鶹ÊÓƵ as their next step. The Â鶹ÊÓƵ Foundation plays a critical role in supporting these students to ensure that financial challenges do not stand in their way by awarding over $500,000 in scholarships and emergency funding every year.

"We believe every student deserves the opportunity to pursue their education, regardless of financial circumstances," Steven Broncheau, the executive director of the Â鶹ÊÓƵ Foundation, said. "Support from the CWCU Community Impact Card will help us address urgent needs and make a real difference in our community."

The partnership between CWCU, Â鶹ÊÓƵ, and Â鶹ÊÓƵF is built on the shared values of commitment to empowerment, opportunity, and community engagement. Â鶹ÊÓƵ and Â鶹ÊÓƵF work to help remove barriers and create pathways for student success that strengthen our entire community, while CWCU is dedicated to providing simplified access to affordable financial services, giving back to our community, and building better lives together.

"Financial empowerment is the key to stronger, more connected communities," Stacie Wyss- Schoenborn, CWCU's president and CEO, said. "Our Community Impact Card Program reflects our mission by aligning everyday financial activity with meaningful, measurable community impact. We're proud to support Â鶹ÊÓƵ and invest in the future of our region."

This is CWCU's sixth Community Impact Card, reinforcing its dedication to local education and community investment. Since the program's inception in 2018, CWCU has returned more than $100,000 to its current give back community partners, which also includes Samaritan Foundation, and West Albany, South Albany, Lebanon, and Jefferson high schools. These special cards show how small actions, when done collectively, can create meaningful change.

The cards are available in all CWCU branch locations in Albany, Bend, Corvallis, Eugene, Lebanon, Newport, and Salem.