Armed with gloves, grabbers, and garbage bags, credit union leaders hit St. Pete Beach Sunday morning in Florida to participate in a giveback event. The initiative aimed at cleaning up the beach and contributing to environmental conservation efforts.
The event, which marked the commencement of the four-day conference hosted by America’s Credit Unions, saw participants collecting 300 pounds of garbage from the area outside the TradeWinds Islands Resorts. Items removed included a variety of debris such as sandals, towels, cans, cups, napkins, straws, squirt guns, broken toys, and more.
The idea for the event was spearheaded by Spencer Park, chief people and administrative officer at Deseret First Credit Union, who organized it as a part of the HROD Council’s annual giveback event. Collaboration with GTE Financial Credit Union and The Florida Aquarium was crucial for the successful execution of the initiative.
Scott Works, vice president of marketing at GTE Financial, highlighted the significance of partnering with The Florida Aquarium, stating, "They’re such a huge entity in the Tampa Bay area. We knew we wanted to do something with the beach, so they were my first call because they have a heart and a passion for that."
Anthony Mason, manager of philanthropic giving at The Florida Aquarium, emphasized the interconnectedness of ecosystems and the importance of keeping trash out of the environment. He explained, "We don’t always think about how tiny fish ingest trash, get eaten by larger animals, and the contaminants work their way up the food chain and can end up in people. Picking up trash helps keep it out of the ocean and out of the environment."
Reflecting on the event, Spencer Park underscored the community-focused values of credit unions, stating, "Credit unions focus on people helping people and making a difference in the community. What better opportunity than to have credit union people get together, network, and clean up part of this community and give back to the environment?"
The collaborative effort showcased the commitment of credit union leaders towards environmental stewardship and community involvement, aligning with the core principles of social responsibility and collective action.