How Our Credit Union Members Make a Difference

Sharonview’s Impact with Volunteering, Mental Health Advocacy, and More

For many people, a financial institution is just a place to manage money. But at Sharonview, it’s more than that. As a credit union, our members are also owners, which means we collectively share a responsibility to uplift the communities where we live and work. That’s why giving back has always been at the heart of what we do and why we’ve identified three interconnected areas of focus as our community pillars: alleviating hunger, alleviating homelessness, and advocating for mental health.

From supporting neighbors affected by mental illness to lending a hand at local schools and food banks, our community impact stretches far beyond banking services like savings accounts or mortgage loans. Today, we’re highlighting how our teams and members have joined together to make a difference through volunteer work, financial education, mental health advocacy, and more.

Our volunteer work: Hands-on support across the Carolinas

Giving back to the community is our daily goal, and it’s one of the major focuses for our organization. Sharonview branches across North and South Carolina regularly organize drives and volunteer opportunities to meet pressing local needs.

For instance, during our February 2024 Supply Drive, participating branches each supported a local nonprofit, from the United Way of Gaston County to Southeastern Carolina Crossroads and Families Forward Charlotte.

In Fayetteville, our team collected items for Fayetteville Urban Ministries. This effort kept resources local and ensured community members received direct support.

The Wilmington branch partnered with the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce for a cleanup and landscaping project for Lakeside Reserve Community.

We’ve also participated in efforts like:

• Christmas Donation Drive. Team members worked with the Rock Hill Schools Education Foundation and Palmetto Impact SC to donate bikes and scooters to more than 80 children in need, spreading holiday joy and supporting families in the York County community.
• Safe Alliance Supply Drive. Our Charlotte-area branch hosted a drive for victims of domestic violence, collecting essential personal items that provided comfort and stability during times of crisis.
• Habitat for Humanity. In partnership with Habitat for Humanity of Greenville County and the Carolinas Credit Union League, the Greenville Sharonview team participated in the first day of a new build in the historic Nicholtown area.

In addition to these initiatives, our teams also supported broader basic-need efforts, including a personal hygiene drive where we collected and donated 1,350 items, and a large-scale school supply drive that delivered 5,008 items to students and teachers across the Carolinas.

Sharonview community events & local engagement

Local Sharonview branches were out in force at community events, supporting small businesses, schools, and nonprofits across the Carolinas. Here are just a few highlights:

• Our Wilmington branch joined the NC Blueberry Festival in June 2025, meeting neighbors and showcasing Sharonview’s community focus. Our RedStone Indian Land branch engaged families at the inaugural Indian Land Community Festival. And, most recently, our Florence branch joined community members at the SC Pecan Festival.
• Our team members in the Lancaster, SC area ran alongside more than 100 participants in the United Way Run for the Rose 5K in May 2025, while our Salisbury branch participated in the Faith Moves Mountains 5K in support of breast cancer research.
• Sharonview’s Charlotte-area team represented us at the Replenish Church Resource & Career Fair, connecting with community members and local organizations. It’s only one of the many job fairs we’ve attended this year!
• The Shelby team attended “Suit Up and Show Up” at Jefferson Elementary, delivering gift bags to 30 teachers filled with essentials for the school year. This team also participated in the My Home Library Project and Communities in Schools for Cleveland County.
• Sharonview’s Florence Branch Manager, Alger Holloman, and Member Experience Representative, Dawn Matthews, represented Sharonview at a CareSouth Carolina event, building on previous financial wellness workshops for local healthcare workers.

Additionally, Sharonview teams showed up for dozens of festivals and celebrations across the Southeast, contributing to 74 total community engagement events. These included beloved regional gatherings such as the Fayetteville Dogwood Festival, Dublin Peanut Festival, Smithfield Cup Festival, Latin American Festival, and more.

Sharonview FCU financial education in action

Community service also means preparing people for long-term financial success. That’s why we offer our financial experience to help families build stronger futures.

Across the Carolinas, our team has hosted financial wellness sessions for future homeowners, teaching budgeting, credit management, and responsible borrowing so families are ready to thrive in their new homes.

At Burns Middle School team members Cameron Kane and Kara Ball led interactive lessons on budgeting and smart decision-making for middle school students. And our North Carolina branches connected with students at the North Rowan High School Career Fair to promote careers in credit unions and emphasize the value of financial education early in life.

Overall, financial empowerment continues to remain a major focus, with our teams facilitating 72 total financial literacy workshops and partnering with nonprofits for an additional 23 educational sessions designed to help members make confident money decisions.

Mental health advocacy: A pillar of community care

Another way Sharonview makes an impact is through health advocacy, particularly for those affected by mental illness. Our leadership has placed mental health advocacy at the core of our community involvement pillars, alongside hunger and homelessness.

Our CEO personally supports NAMI Piedmont Tri-County as a board member and has integrated mental health advocacy into Sharonview’s long-term strategy. Our members and employees have also joined NAMIWalks events over the years, walking together to raise awareness and funds for mental health conditions that touch so many families in our communities.

These advocacy efforts were strengthened by our deepening partnerships with nonprofits and community organizations. These relationships contributed to 37 new business partnerships established year-to-date, many of which allow us to bring mental health resources and wellness programming directly to workplaces and neighborhoods.

Sharonview Federal Credit Union Scholarships and investment in future leaders

Giving back also means investing in the future. Through the Sharonview Cares Scholarship, we award thousands of dollars in scholarships to both members and family members of team members every year. These scholarships commemorate long-serving board members, Phil Abrams and Paul Paliyenko, who both believed in building relationships and providing resources to help our members achieve their goals.

This year also included more than $28,000 in monetary donations to local nonprofits, schools, and community partners, reinforcing our commitment to supporting the next generation both academically and through essential community services. By helping students shape their educational future, we can ensure that tomorrow’s leaders have the resources they need to thrive.

We’re part of our communities

Banking shouldn’t be just about numbers or interest rates. Giving back to the community is part of who we are. From food banks to classrooms, from mental health walks to scholarships, our members and employees are proving that financial institutions can drive real community impact.