By: Marketing

Marketing @ 12:08 pm

Michigan First Credit Union awarded $1,000 scholarships to 82 graduating high school seniors during its annual student scholarship reception on June 24.  The scholarship program honors college-bound high school seniors who are members of Michigan First and attending one of the participating high schools within our 44 served communities.

In the past seven years, we’ve been proud to have awarded over $400,000 in scholarships!

For more information on how to enroll your kids in our MichiganFirst@School, MoneyKids or MoneyTeens programs or to get a head start on financial education with your little ones, check out www.MichiganFirstKids.com

Scholarship recipient Anum Chandhry is featured in the photo above (center), along with Nadine Tibbs-Stallworth, Board Member (left) and Michael Poulos, President and CEO of Michigan First (right).

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By: Lena

Lena @ 5:52 pm

Michigan First awarded recently students from 83 high schools in the metro Detroit area with one-time, non-renewable $1,000 scholarships. The schools are located within the 44 communities served by the Credit Union. Scholarship recipients were chosen by each high school’s scholarship selection committee or designee, and based on the student’s academic achievements, community involvement, special talents, leadership and civic and social responsibility. Scholarships awarded are applied to the student’s first year of college. During the past six years, Michigan First has awarded more than $300,000 in scholarships.

Pictured is Mr. Michael Poulos (President and CEO of Michigan First) and the scholarship recipients.

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By: Lena

Lena @ 8:37 am

Nine talented Detroit students have been selected as winners in the first Good Schools Poetry Contest presented by The Skillman Foundation and Good Schools Resource Center at Marygrove College and sponsored by Michigan First Credit Union.

The competition is part of The Skillman Foundation’s seven-year, multi-million dollar education initiative, Good Schools: Making the Grade, which identifies nine indicators of student and school success and invites all Detroit schools to apply for funding and technical assistance to maintain or attain these standards.   The poetry contest was open to K-12 students attending any of the 145 public, charter, private or parochial schools in Detroit that have been named Good Schools during the first three years of the initiative. The topic was: “Why my School is a Good School.” More than 1,000 entries were submitted. 

First, second and third place winners were chosen in each of three grade levels — elementary (K-5), middle (6-8), and high school (9-12). The winning students and their prizes are:

1)      ELEMENTARY: ·        

1st Place ($300 Gift Card) – Bryce Stallworth, 4th Grade, Bates Academy

 2nd Place($200 Gift Card) – Erica Cannon, 5th Grade, YMCA Service Learning Academy 

  3rd Place ($100 Gift Card) – Brandon Hull, 1st Grade, Charles H. Wright Academy 

2)      MIDDLE: 

1st Place ($500 Gift Card) – Najah Johnson, 7th Grade, Gesu Catholic School 

2nd Place ($300 Gift Card) – J′La Williams, 8th Grade, Golightly Educational Center 

3rd Place ($150 Gift Card) – Shabaka DaaJa-Ra, 7th Grade, Gesu Catholic School

3)      HIGH SCHOOL: 

1st Place ($750 Gift Card) – Michael Varano, 12th Grade, Renaissance High School 

2nd Place ($500 Gift Card) – Phillip Hall, 12th Grade, Communication & Media Arts 

3rd Place ($300 Gift Card) – Margaret Clements, 12th Grade, Renaissance High School

The student poetry winners received their prizes at a Good Schools Celebration of Excellence event on May 27th at Chene Park in Detroit. Marygrove College English faculty judged the students’ poems on creativity, originality, content, title appropriateness, style and mechanics, use of language, and voice authenticity. “We were extremely pleased with the response we received in the poetry contest. It demonstrates the creativity of children in Detroit schools and gives them a voice in what makes a Good School,” said Tonya Allen, vice president of program for The Skillman Foundation.  Michigan First Credit Union presented gift cards and award certificates to the poetry contest winners and plaques to the winning students’ schools. “This is our second year sponsoring a Good Schools: Making the Grade contest, and we’re very proud to be a part of this important initiative,” said Michigan First President & CEO Michael D. Poulos. “Michigan First has always been committed to the education and development of Detroit youth.”

The Skillman Foundation’s Good Schools: Making the Grade initiative identifies, recognizes and rewards Good Schools in Detroit. During the first three years of the initiative, The Skillman Foundation awarded more than $5.5 million in Good Schools grants to nearly 150 Detroit schools. The winning schools are recognized in four categories — High Performing, Improving, Emerging and Aspiring — and evaluated on nine standards: Student Academic Performance; Student Attendance; Leadership and Educational Vitality; Data-Driven Decision Making; Challenging Curriculum and Instruction; Student Focus and Support; School Culture; Professional Community; and School, Family and Community Partnerships.   

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By: Lena

Lena @ 3:18 pm

The Martin Luther King (MLK) Senior High School Marching Crusaders has officially raised the $380,000 they needed to travel to Beijing, China to play during the 2008 Summer Olympics. In early March, Michigan First and its Board of Directors jumpstarted, a community wide effort to help the school raise money for the trip, by making a $10,000 donation to the band and its director, Victoria Miller. The Credit Union also set up a fund for the band so donations could be made at any Michigan First branch.
In addition to Michigan First’s donation, other large donations were made by Gov. Jennifer Granholm, the UAW, The Skillman Foundation, The Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, The Kresge Foundation, The Detroit Lions, and GMAC, just to name a few. Donations were also made by church groups, individuals, block clubs, small and large businesses, and schools. And now, one of the best high school bands in the United States will get a chance to show the world how good they are when they play at the Olympics in August.

Detroit Lions offensive lineman Edwin Mulitalo (3rd from left) gave the band’s fundraising efforts a big boost with a $10,000 donation from his “Big Ed’s Band Foundation” which supports the development of music programs for children. Also on hand to present the check were (left to right) To’alima, Mulitalo’s daughter; Sandra Tomlin, Vice President, Marketing & Public Relations, Michigan First; three MLK student band members; Victoria Miller, band director; and Detroit Lion Jonathan Scott. After the check presentation, Mulitalo played his ukulele while his daughter To’alima performed a special dance for the band.

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By: Steve

Steve @ 6:08 pm

Michigan First Supports MLK High School’s Olympic Performance

On March 5, Michigan First presented a $10,000 check to the Martin Luther King Jr. Senior High School Band. The Martin Luther King Jr. Senior High School Band, one of only five U.S. bands invited to perform, has been selected to represent the State of Michigan during the Pre-Olympics Music Festival in China on July 1-7, 2008.

But it will cost $240,000 and they need our help.

Michigan First Credit Union is making it easy for any one to make any size donation. We have set up an account at the credit union for those wishing to donate funds.

To make any size donation, either:
(1) Visit any Michigan First Branch, or
(2) Mail your donation to:

Michigan First Credit Union
ATTN: MLK Band
27000 Evergreen Rd.
Lathrup Village, MI 48076

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By: Steve

Steve @ 4:20 pm

On February 26, Michigan First celebrated the grand opening of its newest branch in Southfield High School with a ribbon-cutting ceremony in front of the new facility.  The branch is located inside the high school.  It is a fully functional branch that can serve students, staff and parents. Two student tellers work at the branch, are trained by Michigan First staff, and are considered employees of the Credit Union.  This is the second Michigan First branch inside a Southfield Public School High School.  Michigan First has a similar branch in Southfield-Lathrup.

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By: Lena

Lena @ 5:30 pm

In its continuing effort to support the schools in their service areas, Michigan First recently donated 52 computer monitors to Pattengill Elementary School in Berkley. The monitors will be used in the school’s media center, computer lab and in the classrooms. “The Pattengill Elementary family is so grateful to Michigan First Credit Union for its generous donation of computer monitors,” said Principal Daryl Robbins. “We thank the Credit Union for reaching out to our community at large and partnering with our school.”

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By: Lena

Lena @ 3:43 pm

Michigan First Credit Union recently sponsored the Good Schools Essay Contest, presented by The Skillman Foundation and the Good Schools Resource Center at Marygrove College. The competition was part of The Skillman Foundation’s multi-million dollar education initiative, “Good Schools: Making the Grade,” which identifies indicators of student and school success and invites all Detroit schools, K-12, to apply for funding and technical assistance to maintain or attain these standards.

Michael D. Poulos, President/CEO, Michigan First Credit Union (left) is pictured with six of the nine student contest winners. Also pictured are Carol Goss (center, standing), President & CEO, The Skillman Foundation, and David Fike, Ph.D., President, Marygrove College. Michigan First presented each student winner with a monetary award and a framed certificate. Each student’s school received a crystal trophy also sponsored and presented by the Credit Union.

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By: Lena

Lena @ 11:16 am

Michigan First Credit Union donated $20,000 to the Detroit Public Schools Chess Program at a presentation held at the new Evergreen Branch in Lathrup Village in February.

Without Michigan First’s contribution, the Chess Program would have been under-funded and unable to compete in major matches outside the city. With their roots starting with the Detroit Public School System, Michigan First continues to stay committed to the education and development of Detroit youth.

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