A credit union with a presence throughout the region officially opened its new Chatham location with a big donation on Tuesday.
During a special ceremony attended by a number of dignitaries, WFCU Credit Union announced it was giving $50,000 to the Scottish Borderers Foundation’s Service, Sacrifice and Duty capital fundraising campaign.
The donation will help create a permanent fund, the interest from which will support of the Essex-Kent Scottish.
WFCU president and CEO, Eddie Francis, called it an exciting day, noting there is an opportunity to serve another community, while contributing to a worthy cause.
He said the fund will assist with maintaining and erecting monuments, as well as providing other services.
Francis believes Chatham is an important milestone for WFCU, adding it represents continued investment in its members, and fulfills a promise to bring improved financial products, services and advice to more communities.
“It’s just the beginning as we continue to grow,” he said. “As we grew along the 401, we thought it was time to join the movement in Chatham and Chatham-Kent.
“If you’re from the region, you know things are happening in Chatham-Kent. We’re very pleased to be a part of it.”
Glenn Stannard, a borderers foundation board member, said funds also support the pipes and drums, as well as digitizing artifacts and helping to preserve the regiment’s history.
“The interest that we use each year will go forward so we can maintain this in perpetuity,” he said. “Hopefully in a hundred years, or whenever the case is … there will be other people taking up this and being able to manage the money.”
The new location, which is WFCU’s 14th retail branch, is located at 814 St. Clair St.
In addition to Tuesday’s donation announcement, WFCU was a sponsor for Chatham’s Retrofest event this past spring, and the recent Buxton 100th Homecoming celebration.
This fall and winter, the credit union has pledged to support Habitat for Humanity’s RiverRun, Crowfest, the Chatham-Kent Hospice Foundation benefit gala, the Chatham Goodfellows Halloween Spooktacular, and the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance Foundation Christmas wish tree campaign.