ECU’s Casual for a Cause Program Donates Over $50k to Local Organizations

KINGSPORT, TN – Ten community organizations within Eastman Credit Union's service areas received more than $50,000 through its "Casual for a Cause" employee giving program.

“ECU employees love helping others. Casual for a Cause is an employee-led giving program allowing our team members organization-wide to do something special for a group of charities they choose each year. Employees give a dollar each paycheck, and ECU matches the total donated," said ECU's CEO and president Kelly Price. 

"Casual for a Cause" began in 2020 at ECU, and to date, the program has given over $217,000 to local charities. ECU employees wear matching t-shirts with the names of the chosen organizations for the year, jeans, and tennis shoes to work on payday Thursdays. Since 2020, forty-six charities have received checks from ECU. 

Employees vote on the organizations each fall for the upcoming year. Charities are selected from each of ECU’s service areas. The 2024 charities chosen by ECU staff were Animal Defense League of Washington County and For Pete's Sake in Southwest Virginia; Appalachian Miles for Smiles, Hope Helps, Dawn of Hope, Inc., and Coalition for Kids in Northeast Tennessee; Legacy Closet, Texas Star Rescue, and East Texas CASA in Longview, Texas.

ECU employees met with the 2024 Casual for a Cause organizations to present checks on Thursday. 

"Since our employees lead this special program, it's only fitting they present the checks. We have the best employees. Their hearts are big, and they love to serve," said Price.

About Eastman Credit Union

Eastman Credit Union is a not-for-profit financial cooperative headquartered in Kingsport, Tennessee. Serving areas of Northeast Tennessee, Southwest Virginia, and East Texas, ECU is one of the nation's top 40 largest credit unions with over 341,000 members and employs approximately 1,100. For more information about ECU, visit ecu.org. Funds are federally insured by NCUA. Member Equal Housing Lender. Equal Opportunity Employer.