The red carpet was rolled out on the evening of March 3 as more than 1,000 credit union industry representatives gathered in the ballroom of the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Washington, D.C., for the National Credit Union Foundation’s 2025 Herb Wegner Memorial Awards ceremony. This prestigious event recognizes individuals and organizations making extraordinary contributions to improving financial well-being. Among this year’s four honorees was Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger.
The Wegner Awards were established to honor the memory of Herb Wegner, a visionary leader who served as president & CEO of the Credit Union National Association in the 1970s. He is remembered for envisioning not just what the credit union movement was, but what it could become. Administered by the National Credit Union Foundation, the awards are regarded as one of the highest national honors within the credit union movement.
As the awards ceremony got underway, attendees viewed videos showcasing the 2025 award winners, which also included Teri M. Robinson, CEO of Ironworkers USA Federal Credit Union; Deborah A. Wage, International Credit Union development educator and cooperative community advocate at BECU; and Michael Valentine, CEO at Baxter Credit Union. The Campaign’s video featured representatives from Good Shepherd Food Bank, the Standish Food Pantry, Casco Federal Credit Union and PeoplesChoice Credit Union.
League President Elise Baldacci and League Vice President of Outreach & Strategic Initiatives Jen Burke accepted the award on behalf of the Campaign. In her remarks, Baldacci shared, “We launched the Campaign for Ending Hunger in 1990 with a simple yet powerful mission: to help put food on the tables of Mainers experiencing hunger. In a world where it’s hard to find anything that a group of people — no less 48 credit unions — can agree on, Maine credit unions have been unwavering in their commitment to end hunger in Maine.”
Baldacci added, “In 2024, the Campaign raised a record-breaking $1.3 million dollars. In a state with just over 1.4 million people, that is real change for thousands of Mainers. What began as a promise has grown into a true labor of love — one that continues to gain strength with every meal served, every backpack filled, and every life touched.”
Burke also provided brief remarks and shared, “In 1990 when the Campaign began, few could have imagined that so many people would lack reliable access to nutritious foods 35 years later. Yet today, Mainers are still making impossible choices between food, rent, and other basic needs. Hunger is not just an issue of empty stomachs; it is an issue of opportunity, health and dignity. For these reasons, our work presses on.”
In each of their comments, Baldacci and Burke encouraged others to get involved in addressing food insecurity, reminding attendees that hunger is not a Maine issue, rather a national crisis.
“Tonight, as we accept this award, we do so with a call to action,” stated Baldacci. “We urge credit unions across the country to fight food insecurity and the root causes of hunger in your communities. I believe that we can turn the tide on food insecurity and ensure that no individual or family goes without their next meal.”
Since 1990, Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger has raised over $14.9 million in food and cash contributions to address food insecurity in the state. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, all contributions to the Campaign for Ending Hunger are tax-deductible. You do not need to be a member of a local credit union to donate to the Campaign.
The Maine Credit Union League is a nonprofit, professional trade association that exists to serve Maine’s credit unions. Founded in 1938, the League’s mission is to help credit unions succeed and improve the financial lives of their members. As the trade association for Maine’s credit unions, the League provides advocacy, education, and other resources designed to assist credit unions in meeting the needs of their membership. For more information, visit www.mainecul.org.
