Introducing the 2023 GECU Giveback Partners

By: The GECU Cares Team

Every year, General Electric Credit Union (GECU) selects three local nonprofit organizations who mirror our “People Helping People” philosophy as our annual Giveback Partners. Serving many of the communities where our members and team members live and work, these organizations are located in the Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky areas. 

They focus on a range of important causes including bridging educational and economic barriers, supporting active-duty military service members and veterans, and tackling food insecurity. GECU awards these organizations with a charitable financial donation. In addition, we support them throughout the year via our GECU Cares Program. Through this program, our team members volunteer their time and provide support at a variety of events.

Learn more about our incredible Giveback Partners and the impact they are having on our community below.

The 2023 GECU Giveback Partners

Be Concerned

1100 Pike Street
Covington, Kentucky 41011
(859) 291-6789

• Mission: Be Concerned is deeply committed to honoring the dignity and humanity of all people. Our purpose is to assist the people of Northern Kentucky in obtaining necessities for life.

Be Concerned was founded in 1987; the organization continues its work today with a fundamental focus on food insecurity and eliminating hunger. It is the largest free food program in Northern Kentucky. In 2021, 5,725 unique individuals were served in 2,328 distinct households. The organization retains the choice model Sister Donna Kinney started more than a half century ago by allowing shoppers to select their own food instead of providing a standard bag of items. With this approach, patrons do not have to take items they already have, do not like, or cannot eat for health or personal reasons. 

Be Concerned encourages staff members and volunteers to uphold this mantra. In addition, the organization strives to deliver services with a smile, a hug, or an encouraging word. It operates two separate locations in Northern Kentucky, Covington, and Erlanger. Both locations include a food pantry and thrift store. The organization relies heavily on volunteers to serve their shoppers and run the operation. To learn more about Be Concerned and volunteer opportunities, visit their website or click here.

NEST Community Learning Center

11905 Rich Road
Loveland, Ohio 45140
(513) 781-1238

• Mission: NEST Community Learning Center exists to provide Nutrition, address academic and non-academic barriers to Education, in a Safe environment to Transform lives.

NEST Community Learning Center was founded in 2016 with the mission to address academic and non-academic barriers that perpetuate the cycle of generational poverty in suburban communities. Through its innovative mobile classroom, NEST delivers free, proven educational programs and strategies to students in need in their own “backyard,” affording the students they serve with a fighting chance to change their futures. 

Last year, NEST made a significant, positive impact in the community by providing over 53,000 meals, 4,400 academic kits, and 1,500 books to students in need. NEST delivers two main educational initiatives – Early Learners: An After-School Program and “Lunch, Learn, & Play:” A Summer Program. The organization has become a visible, long-term, trusted partner in the lives of their students. NEST collaborates with the local school district, administrators, teachers, and specialists to extend their academic reach beyond the classroom. If you are interested in learning more or volunteering with NEST Community Learning Center, visit their website or click here.

Yellow Ribbon Support Center (YRSC)

4326 Mt. Carmel Tobasco Road
Cincinnati, Ohio 45244
(513) 752-4310

• Mission: Our mission is to support our military men and women currently deployed and serving in harm’s way. To remember those that didn’t walk off the plane. To educate and raise awareness for our military personnel.

The Yellow Ribbon Support Center is a group of volunteers supporting troops serving in harm’s way and remembering those who did not walk off the plane. The journey began on April 9, 2004, when SSG Matt Maupin, son of founder and Executive Director, Keith Maupin, was taken captive by Iraqi insurgents and held in an unknown location. A close-knit community and the determination of the Maupin Family to locate their son was the impetus for a massive campaign of sending care packages. The mission continues today in support of active-duty military personnel by collecting donations, purchasing food and personal care items, and creating care packages which are shipped to troops all over the world. 

Since the organization started, over 26,000 care packages have been delivered and $550,000 awarded in post-secondary scholarships in memory of fallen heroes. The Yellow Ribbon Support Center also works with other veteran organizations through their alliance with charter partners to identify resources for returning service members including potential job opportunities. Learn more about volunteering with Yellow Ribbon Support Center by visiting their website or click here.

We hope you enjoyed learning more about these three impactful, nonprofit organizations. 
If you work with or volunteer at any of the 2023 GECU Giveback Partners, tell us about it 
by emailing GECU Cares at: [email protected]
#GECUCares