Each year, General Electric Credit Union (GECU) carefully selects three nonprofit organizations who share our People Helping People philosophy. Our goal is to give back to communities where our members and team members live and work. These organizations often stand out in their own unique areas, helping people from many different backgrounds with a variety of needs. This year we selected three charitable organizations that focus on a range of important causes and serve the Greater Cincinnati area.
We are pleased to announce our 2024 Giveback Partners are New Life Furniture Bank, Pathways to Home, and Save the Animals Foundation. GECU awards these organizations with a generous financial donation; in addition, we support these nonprofits during the year through our GECU Cares Program, volunteering our time and working at numerous events. Learn more about these incredible organizations below including who they serve and the impact each is having in our community.
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New Life Furniture Bank
11335 Reed Hartman Highway, Unit 134
Cincinnati, OH 45241
(513) 313-0530
- Mission: New Life Furniture Bank partners with local social services agencies to provide a full house of furniture to families and individuals overcoming devastating personal circumstances, so they can start their new life with hope and dignity.
We are excited to partner with one of our neighbors in Blue Ash, as New Life Furniture Bank (NLFB) is located near our GECU Corporate Headquarters. When the organization was founded in 2006, for the first few years New Life Furniture Bank was part of the Milford First United Methodist Church. Then in 2009, NLFB became a separate, official 501(C) 3; it is the only Furniture Bank in Greater Cincinnati. NLFB began by serving six households and grew to 600 households in a few years. In 2022, the organization furnished nearly 2,000 households and worked with 65 other social services agencies. NLFB serves those in need throughout the Greater Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky, and Dayton areas.
In 2022, NLFB volunteers delivered over 27,000 pieces of donated furniture and set up new households, positively impacting over 4,200 people in the community; more than 1,860 beds were delivered—over half of those beds were for children who were likely sleeping on the floor. NLFB hosts a variety of programs; the organization is always in need of furniture donations, funding, and volunteers. Volunteers can work in the warehouse organizing household goods and assembling and painting furniture that will end up in patrons’ homes. NLFB is also proud of their Design with a Heart Program, where local interior decorators volunteer their creative skills and talents, turning empty houses into personalized, stylish homes. If you would like to donate furniture or want to learn more about New Life Furniture Bank, visit them online.
“At New Life Furniture Bank, we’re committed to ‘doing good’ by serving our most vulnerable neighbors in need. When we deliver furniture, we turn empty houses into homes.”
Pathways to Home
9141 Kilby Road
Harrison, OH 45030
(513) 367-1441
- Mission: To provide education and encouragement to build healthy, thriving families, and community connections.
As GECU expands its locations in 2024 with the opening of our Dent Branch, we are proud to support an organization on the West Side we have worked with previously. Pathways to Home has two locations in Harrison and Colerain. Founded in 1989 as Services to Area Youth, the nonprofit originally focused on assisting young, first-time mothers. Since then, the name has changed and Pathways to Home now offers expanded services to meet the needs of families living in poverty. The organization provides prenatal and child development education, refers clients to other community agencies with additional resources, and empowers families on paths to self-sufficiency and well-being.
Pathways to Home is committed to being responsive to the changing needs of their clients and the communities they serve through their Every Child Succeeds Home Visitation Program, Give & Take Pantry, Mobile Outreach, and Summer Programs for Youth. The organization offers a network of services to change lives, help individuals overcome challenges, and strengthen communities through connection. Pathways to Home serves hundreds of people through their programs with 4,300 home visits impacting approximately 250 families every year. The organization relies heavily on community support to fulfill its mission. Pathways to Home also accepts donations for the Give & Take Pantry including diapers, wipes, nonperishable food, household products, and hygiene items. If you are interested in volunteering or learning more about Pathways to Home, visit their website.
Save the Animals Foundation (STAF)
4011 Red Bank Road
Cincinnati, OH 45227
(513) 561-7823
- Mission: Save the Animals Foundation is a volunteer-driven, no-kill shelter providing rescue and rehabilitation to alleviate the suffering of dogs and cats, while helping each animal find a loving home.
The nonprofit is funded entirely with donations and operated solely by volunteers. The Shelter & Adoption Center houses over 300 cats and 50 dogs; sadly, many of these animals have been abandoned, abused, or neglected. Volunteer Teams staff the facility two shifts a day, 365 days a year, providing a safe and caring environment until the animals can be placed with new families. Every incoming animal receives a thorough exam and appropriate vaccinations before being admitted into the shelter population. All animals are fed a high-quality diet and receive regular visits by a core network of dedicated veterinarians. Every animal is spayed or neutered aligning with the STAF philosophy of promoting responsible pet ownership.
The shelter living areas are cleaned twice a day, every day. However, offering much more than just room and board, STAF volunteers go the extra mile to give the animals the individual attention they need and deserve. Other important initiatives include off-site obedience training and a volunteer/dog mentoring program, as well as the “Cat Care Corps” & “Brush-n-Fluff” Days designed to socialize the cats to human touch. The adoption process starts with an application and informal interview with a STAF volunteer who works to find the perfect animal for each individual or family. Since 1988, Save the Animals Foundation has matched thousands of fortunate animals with equally happy families. Visit them online to learn more about adopting or volunteering.
We hope you enjoyed learning more about these three impactful, nonprofit organizations.
If you work with or volunteer at any of the 2024 GECU Giveback Partners, tell us about it
by emailing GECU Cares at: [email protected]
#GECUCares