MASSENA – SeaComm was recently honored with a Diamond Award by the Credit Union National Association (CUNA) Marketing and Business Development Council. The credit union won in the “Ongoing Event” category for its Pay-It-Forward Program.

The CUNA Diamond Award, recognizes and rewards credit unions that show creative excellence while garnering outstanding results. The selection committee evaluates entries based on strategy, concept, production and communication. Throughout the year, SeaComm produced (26) Pay-It-Forward events and attributes its success to the focus of spreading positivity in the communities it serves. The program has allowed the credit union to deliver random acts of kindness throughout the region since 2017.

“We are proud to be a recipient of the 2023 Diamond Award,” states Scott A. Wilson, SeaComm President & Chief Executive Officer. “This award is a testament that we are fulfilling the credit union philosophy of ‘People Helping People’ and we are committed to giving back to the communities we serve. During the last few years, our neighbors have been affected by economic uncertainty in various ways, and the Pay-It-Forward Program enables SeaComm the chance to deliver good will to local residents.”

Last year, the many events produced throughout Northern New York and Vermont, impacted more than 4,300 people. The Pay-It-Forward Program has allowed the credit union to surprise local businesses with free lunch, sponsor the adoption costs at area animal shelters, pay for orders at local coffee shops, deliver breakfast to first responders, and much more. Each event is free to the public, and most are announced in advance on the SeaComm Facebook page. Individuals who receive a random act of kindness from the credit union are encouraged to “pay it forward” to others.

SeaComm is a member owned financial cooperative, headquartered in Massena with over 53,600 members and assets exceeding $806 million. The credit union has nine branches located in Massena, Potsdam, Malone, Canton, Ogdensburg, Plattsburgh, South Burlington, Essex, and Watertown. Membership is open to anyone who lives, works, worships or attends school in St. Lawrence, Franklin, Clinton, Essex, Jefferson, and Lewis Counties, New York and Grand Isle, Chittenden and Franklin Counties, Vermont.