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EAST HARTFORD, Conn. — American Eagle Financial Credit Union announced $7,500 in donations to local food- and housing-assistance organizations within the credit union’s service area. The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, Connecticut Foodshare, and Hands on Hartford will each receive a $2,500 donation from American Eagle to advance their mission and fund their supportive services for people in need.

“American Eagle is very thankful for every organization making a difference in our communities and touching the lives of those in need this holiday season,” said Howard Brady, president and CEO of American Eagle Financial Credit Union. “These three organizations — Connecticut Foodshare, Hands on Hartford, and the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts — perform tremendous work by putting caring into action and providing needed support and resources to our service area throughout the year. We give thanks for their partnership and for all they do.”

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EAST HARTFORD, Conn. — American Eagle Financial Credit Union (AEFCU) announced the appointment of Ashley Rollins as vice president of Consumer Lending. In her new role, Rollins will focus on all aspects of lending, including consumer and real-estate originations, collections, process improvement, automation, and loan reporting.

“We are very pleased to welcome Ashley to American Eagle and our leadership team,” said Howard Brady, president and CEO of AEFCU. “We believe she brings tremendous value to our organization and possesses the right qualities to advance our credit union in the marketplace.”

Dianna Wilson, senior vice president and chief lending officer of American Eagle, added that “Ashley possesses in-depth knowledge of the financial-services market, substantial experience in lending, and a passion for serving people. She will be integral in servicing American Eagle’s members and communities — and I am confident her addition strengthens our lending operations.”

Rollins assumes her new role at AEFCU with more than 11 years of experience in financial-services operations, quality control, and consumer loan products. She most recently served as Loan Administration officer for Justice Federal Credit Union in Washington, D.C.

She earned certificates from the National Assoc. of Federally Insured Credit Unions Management and Leadership Institute and the Harvard Business School Leadership Academy, as well as a Yellow Belt certification from Lean Six Sigma. During her time in the D.C. region, she volunteered at the Central Virginia Food Bank and taught financial-literacy classes at Richmond, Va. elementary schools.

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EAST HARTFORD, Conn. — The nominees are set, and the public can now vote in the latest round of American Eagle Financial Credit Union’s (AFECU) Cash Back to the Community program, which has provided nearly $163,000 to local nonprofits since the program’s inception in early 2020.

AEFCU members and the general public are invited to view the list of nominees and vote at americaneagle.org/cashbacktothecommunity. The voting period ends on Sunday, Dec. 19.

“Cash Back to the Community has been a remarkable experience for our American Eagle team these past two years,” said AEFCU President and CEO Dean Marchessault, who will be retiring from the credit union at year’s end. “I have enjoyed watching this program grow and witnessing the substantial impact these quarterly donations have had in our local communities. This is my last round of Cash Back to the Community as American’s Eagle’s president and CEO, and it’s my hope we’ll see our most vigorous voting period yet. And so I encourage everyone to log on to americaneagle.org and vote for your favorite nonprofit.”

Through its Cash Back to the Community program, American Eagle provides thousands of dollars each quarter to three nonprofit and/or 501(c)(3) organizations within its service area — Hartford, Middlesex, Tolland, and New Haven counties in Connecticut, and Hampden County in Massachusetts. AEFCU donates 1% of its credit- and debit-card interchange income, which is then evenly distributed to the top three vote getters during the Cash Back to the Community voting period.

Last quarter’s winners included the Southington Girls Softball League, the Asnuntuck Community College Food Pantry, and Our Piece of the Pie, with each organization receiving a $8,614 donation from American Eagle.

Daily News

EAST HARTFORD, Conn. — As part of American Eagle Financial Credit Union’s (AEFCU) month-long celebration of veterans, their families, and the organizations that support them, the credit union announced a donation of $5,000 from its donor-advised fund at the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving to Easterseals Capital Region and Eastern Connecticut Veterans Rally Point, a program committed to the successful reintegration of active military, National Guard, Reserve, veterans, and their families into all aspects of civilian life.

“We are honored to partner with American Eagle Financial Credit Union to offer a hand up to our military service members,” said Robin Sharp, president and CEO of Easterseals Capital Region and Eastern Connecticut. “Those who have protected and served need our support now more than ever, and we are grateful for our corporate partners like AEFCU.”

American Eagle’s donation coincides with its second Honor Roll of Veterans, which is now on display throughout the month of November. In anticipation of Veterans Day, AEFCU invites friends and family of veterans to submit the names of loved ones who served in the U.S. military, and their names are then listed on the Honor Roll of Veterans at americaneagle.org/veterans.

“We can never say thank you enough to those who fought for and protected our country throughout the years,” said Dean Marchessault, president and CEO of American Eagle Financial Credit Union. “And so, by sharing our gratitude and appreciation over an entire month, including the traditional November 11th Veterans Day celebration, we hope to show that we will always remember and honor their service.”

With services based out of Norwich and Rocky Hill, Easterseals Veterans Rally Point provides a wide range of assistance to current active-duty and retired veterans and their families, most of which are free of charge. The grant from American Eagle will be used to fund Veterans Rally Point’s behavioral-health services, Veterans Affairs benefits consultation, employment and résumé assistance, education and job-skill training, and financial assessment and coaching, as well as the organization’s computer center, clothing closet, food pantry, peer groups, case management, and health and wellness programs.

Daily News

EAST HARTFORD, Conn. — American Eagle Financial Credit Union (AEFCU) revealed the recipients of $25,842 in total donations from the latest round of the credit union’s popular Cash Back to the Community program. The third quarter’s winners — three nonprofit organizations from AEFCU’s service area that earned the most community votes — will each receive $8,614 from American Eagle.

The latest winners are the Asnuntuck Community College Food Pantry in Enfield, the Southington Girls Softball League, and Our Piece of the Pie in Hartford. Through the Cash Back to the Community program, American Eagle has donated $76,571 to local organizations in 2021 alone, and $162,996 since the program first launched in January 2020.

“One of the few things that compares to the excitement of announcing our Cash Back to the Community winners throughout the year is witnessing how this program is helping local organizations grow and continue their important work in our service area,” said Dean Marchessault, president and CEO of American Eagle Financial Credit Union. “Congratulations to our winners, both past and present, and thank you to all those who were nominated and voted. We hope you’ll stay involved, as our last round of the year will commence in the coming weeks.”

AEFCU donates 1% of its credit- and debit-card interchange income to three nonprofit and/or 501(c)(3) organizations each quarter through the Cash Back to the Community program.

“Asnuntuck Community College is honored to have our food pantry selected for American Eagle Financial Credit Union’s Cash Back to the Community program,” said Michelle Coach, the college’s CEO. “Food insecurity has been a struggle for many of our students, and it was exacerbated by the pandemic. This donation will make an immense difference in a significant number of our students’ lives — and they are our community.”

In addition to American Eagle’s donations through the Cash Back to the Community program, AEFCU employees donated $3,461 to the United Way and $8,339 to the American Eagle Fund at the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving. AEFCU employees have provided $33,827 in total donations in 2021. Funds are generated through voluntary payroll deductions throughout the year and distributed to local organizations that American Eagle and its employees support on a quarterly basis.

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EAST HARTFORD, Conn. — American Eagle Financial Credit Union (AEFCU) announced $5,000 in total donations for two organizations based in Hampden County — American Eagle’s first service area outside of Connecticut. The Ronald McDonald House of Springfield and Springfield Partners for Community Action have each been selected to receive $2,500 grants from American Eagle’s donor-advised fund at the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving.

“A few short years ago, American Eagle became the first Connecticut credit union to expand into Massachusetts, and we made a commitment to play the same active role within this community as we do in the rest of our member service area,” said Dean Marchessault, president and CEO of AEFCU. “The Ronald McDonald House of Springfield and Springfield Partners for Community Action provide tremendous assistance, care, and resources to Hampden County families. It’s our hope these grants will bolster their efforts and serve as a reminder of our team’s admiration for the organizations.”

Michelle D’Amore, executive director of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Connecticut & Western Massachusetts, noted that “we are deeply grateful to American Eagle Financial Credit Union for their support of the programs at the Ronald McDonald House of Springfield. This gift will truly make a difference for our children and their families who will need our ‘home away from home’ while being treated at area children’s hospitals.”

Added Paul Bailey, executive director of Springfield Partners for Community Action, “on behalf of the low-income residents that we serve in Springfield, we would like to thank American Eagle Financial Credit Union for their generous donation. The funds will be used to support our scholarship-program efforts, where for the past 18 years we have awarded 12 $1,000 scholarships to low-income high-school seniors and adult learners.”

Daily News

EAST HARTFORD, Conn. — American Eagle Financial Credit Union (AEFCU) is asking its members and the general public to help decide which local organizations should win thousands of dollars in donations by voting in the latest round of AEFCU’s Cash Back to the Community.

Now in its second year, Cash Back to the Community has yielded more than $137,000 in total donations for 18 different nonprofit and/or 501(c)(3) organizations spread throughout American Eagle’s service area. Like previous installments of the quarterly program, American Eagle will evenly distribute 1% of its total interchange income, which is generated each time its members use an American Eagle Financial Credit Union credit or debit card, to the contest’s top three vote getters. Since the program’s inception at the start of 2020, Cash Back to the Community winners have received an average donation of $7,611.

“Every time we open the nomination process for Cash Back to the Community, we’re amazed by the incredible number of dedicated and deserving nonprofit organizations performing important work in our communities. The only comparison is witnessing the high level of enthusiasm and advocacy we’ve continually enjoyed during the contest’s two-week voting period,” said Dean Marchessault, president and CEO of AEFCU. “Each of the nominees are already winners in our book — and however this round of voting shakes out, we thank each one of them for their service and commitment to their mission.”

The voting form and the list of nominated organizations for the latest installment of Cash Back to the Community can be found at americaneagle.org/cashbacktothecommunity. The voting period will conclude on Sunday, Sept. 19, and winners will be announced shortly thereafter.

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EAST HARTFORD, Conn. — American Eagle Financial Credit Union (AEFCU) announced the appointment of Ryan McEleney as senior vice president, chief people officer. As CPO, McEleney will lead the advancement of talent-management and human-capital-development strategies, as well as cultivate workforce plans and programs that align with the organization’s overall business objectives.

McEleney will serve as a member of the company’s executive leadership team, reporting directly to the president and CEO. American Eagle’s current president and CEO, Dean Marchessault, announced earlier this year that he will retire at the end of 2021, at which time the credit union’s current Senior Vice President and Chief Lending Officer Howard Brady will assume the role of president and CEO.

McEleney brings nearly 20 years of human-resources and training experience to American Eagle, most recently serving as senior vice president, director of HR Analytics & Technology at Webster Bank. He previously held positions in the areas of incentive compensation, HR strategy, and talent and culture programs. He has been a featured speaker at HR Leaders, the HR Leadership Summit, Innovate Work, Future of Work, and HR for Financial Services, to name a few, and has also been a guest lecturer at Southern Connecticut State University.

“We are extremely pleased to welcome Ryan to our executive team,” Marchessault said. “We feel he is the right leader to help us maintain our inclusive, engaged, and high-performing culture, while managing the evolving demands of talent development.”

Brady added that “there have been many changes over the last year and a half, but one constant is that American Eagle has remained committed to ensuring that every decision is made with our employees’ safety and wellness in mind. We immediately felt that Ryan understood our culture, and we’re confident that he is the right fit to take us into the future.”

McEleney is a senior certified professional from the Society of Human Resources Management. He earned his bachelor’s degree in general studies from the University of Connecticut and graduated from the Center for Excellence in Teaching & Learning in 2015. He has a Six Sigma green belt from Central Connecticut State University in addition to both his leadership certification and his culture certification from the Disney Institute. He also has an advanced facilitation certificate from the Langevin Institute.

McEleney currently serves as director and co-chair of the diversity, equity and inclusion committee for the Governor’s Prevention Partnership (GPP). He also co-founded, and now serves as a director of, Walk with Us, an organization supporting families impacted by brain cancer.

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EAST HARTFORD, Conn. — American Eagle Financial Credit Union (AEFCU) announced the recipients of more than $27,500 in donations from the latest round of the credit union’s popular Cash Back to the Community quarterly program. The second quarter’s winners — three nonprofits from AEFCU’s service area that were chosen by the local community — will each receive $9,187.

The newest winners of American Eagle’s Cash Back to the Community include Around the Worlds of Ellington, That Newfoundland Place of Coventry, and Creative Living Community of Connecticut, which is based in Coventry. An impressive 2,448 votes were cast by AEFCU members and the general public during the two-week voting period, determining which of the 215 local nominees would receive a financial boost from American Eagle to support their work in the community.

In total, AEFCU has donated $137,148 to nonprofits in AEFCU’s service area since the program’s inception, including $50,727 since the start of 2021.

“This was our strongest quarter since the Cash Back to the Community program began, and we are so tremendously pleased with its continued growth and popularity,” said Dean Marchessault, president and CEO of American Eagle Financial Credit Union. “What began as an idea on how we could give back to our community in a new, innovative way has morphed into one of the most engaging and successful charitable initiatives in our region. We congratulate and thank our latest winners for all they do for our members and community, and we want to encourage other organizations to remain or get involved in future rounds of this worthwhile program.”

Since January 2020, AEFCU has donated 1% of its credit- and debit-card interchange income to three nonprofit and/or 501(c)(3) organizations each quarter through the Cash Back to the Community program. Funding for the program is generated each time its members use an American Eagle Financial Credit Union credit or debit card.

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EAST HARTFORD, Conn. — American Eagle Financial Credit Union (AEFCU) announced that Dean Marchessault, the nonprofit organization’s president and CEO, will retire at the end of 2021, allowing for a transition process over the next seven months. Marchessault’s decision to retire will conclude 22 years of service to Connecticut’s largest community credit union, including seven as president and CEO.

“The board of directors and I would like to extend our sincere appreciation to Dean for his decades of dedicated service to American Eagle Financial Credit Union — particularly for his leadership as our president and CEO,” said Michael DePasquale, chairman of the AEFCU board of directors. “During his tenure as president and CEO, the credit union’s asset size almost doubled to $2.3 billion, and Dean has been instrumental in increasing American Eagle’s recognition as a leader and significant contributor within the community. We thank Dean for guiding American Eagle to the high level of success it enjoys today. We wish him all the best, and a long and healthy retirement.”

American Eagle has selected Howard Brady to be the credit union’s next president and CEO, starting Jan. 3, 2022. Brady has served as senior vice president and chief lending officer since 2015.

“We are confident Howard will provide the leadership necessary for the credit union to continue on its steady path of success, and we congratulate him on his promotion and new responsibilities,” DePasquale said.

During Marchessault’s time as president and CEO, the credit union’s membership and footprint have also grown exponentially. AEFCU currently provides banking services to more than 160,000 members and opened its first office in New Haven County while also being granted approval to expand its field of membership into Western Mass. in 2019. In 2020 alone, AEFCU’s monetary contributions were just shy of $300,000 and included grants from American Eagle’s donor-advised fund at the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, corporate sponsorships, and general donations, as well as those derived from AEFCU’s Cash Back to the Community program.

In recent years, Marchessault has garnered several honors as a business and community leader, including a C-Suite Award from the Harford Business Journal in 2020, and the Business Person of the Year Award from the Connecticut River Valley Chamber of Commerce in 2018. In 2019, AEFCU was named one of the “Best Places to Work in Connecticut” by the Hartford Business Journal.

“Serving as the president and CEO of AEFCU has been a great honor, and words cannot express how I feel about our American Eagle family,” Marchessault said. “I thank the board of directors for allowing me to lead such a sensational organization, and I want to express my immense gratitude to the employees of AEFCU for all the success that they helped our credit union achieve, and for their dedicated service to our members, particularly after this challenging year. This transition will be bittersweet for me, but I know that it will be seamless thanks to the amazing team we have in place.”

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EAST HARTFORD, Conn. — American Eagle Financial Credit Union (AEFCU) is continuing its mission of supporting nonprofit organizations and the communities it serves by inviting both its members and the general public to take part in choosing the next round of winners for the credit union’s participatory funding program, Cash Back to the Community.

Entering its second year, AEFCU’s Cash Back to the Community program yielded $86,425 in total donations in 2020, providing assistance to financially strained nonprofits during the historic COVID-19 pandemic. Thanks to its growing popularity and success in assisting organizations in need, the credit union announced in early January that the quarterly program would continue through 2021 and once again asked the public to nominate nonprofit and/or 501(c)(3) organizations that fit within the program’s qualifying guidelines for the next round of voting.

“When we kicked off Cash Back to the Community at the start of 2020, no one knew how challenging the coming year would be for nonprofit organizations,” said Dean Marchessault, president and CEO of AEFCU. “Each of our recipients make a difference in our members’ communities every single day, and we’re thrilled that we were able to support these deserving organizations and connect our members and the public to our philanthropic efforts. The response to this program has been overwhelming, and we hope that the amazing amount of participation we’ve experienced thus far continues in this latest round of voting.”

As in 2020, American Eagle’s Cash Back to the Community program will donate a portion of its credit- and debit-card interchange income to three organizations at the end of each quarter’s voting period this year. Funding for the program is generated each time its members use an American Eagle Financial Credit Union credit or debit card. At the end of each quarter, 1% of the total interchange income — the fee paid for credit- and debit-card transactions — will be distributed to the three top qualified nonprofits as voted on by a combination of the credit union’s members and the public.

The voting form and the list of nominated organizations for the latest installment of Cash Back to the Community can be found at americaneagle.org/cashbacktothecommunity. Voting ends on March 28, and winners will be announced shortly thereafter.

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EAST HARTFORD, Conn. — In the spirit of the holidays and to reinforce its long-term commitment to assisting families in need, American Eagle Financial Credit Union awarded $3,000 in grants from its donor-advised fund at the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving to three nonprofit diaper banks in Connecticut and Western Mass.

Square One Diaper Bank in Springfield, the Diaper Bank of Connecticut, and Gentle Love Diaper Pantry, a youth-led nonprofit organization at Manchester (Conn.) High School, each received $1,000 to purchase and distribute diapers to needy families in their respective communities this holiday season.

“This year has been a challenging one for many families across our service region, so we felt compelled to bring some relief to them during a time of year when people come together to help others,” said Dean Marchessault, president and CEO of American Eagle Federal Credit Union. “Our donations reinforce our commitment to the health and well-being of children and families.”

Square One bills itself as a provider of a range of family-friendly education and support services; its programs include early education and care at centers in Springfield, home-based care settings located throughout Greater Springfield, and out-of-school-time care for elementary-age children.

“More than ever, our families are struggling to meet their basic needs. The cost of diapers can be as high as $100 per month for some families,” said Dawn DiStefano, executive vice president of Square One. “Thanks to the generosity of American Eagle Financial Credit Union and other community partners, we can continue to lessen this burden by supplying emergency diapers to those in need.”