How has my credit union given back?
In 2019, NorthRidge pushed to give back more than ever before to our communities! Throughout the course of the year, the NorthRidge team donated to the Children’s Miracle Network, the Aurora Food Shelf, the Northeast division of Toys for Tots and hosted blood drives at the Virginia office and at the Hoyt Lakes Arena with the Hoyt Lakes Chamber of Commerce. NorthRidge has also been very active with the Hoyt Lakes Water Carnival and has orchestrated the kids races and sand pile for three amazing years.
- CU Forward Day – This is a day dedicated to volunteering and giving back to our communities which credit unions are known for. 2019 was the first year NorthRidge participated and our teams volunteered with the Virginia Fire Department (Biwabik Branch), at Mesabi East School and with the can collections for the Hoyt Lakes Chamber of Commerce (Hoyt Lakes Branch), the Mesabi Humane Society (Virginia Branch), the Range Regional Animal Shelter (Hibbing Branch), and delivered flowers and presents to the Boundary Waters Care Center (Ely Branch).
- Miracle Treat Day – During Miracle Treat Day, in conjunction with the Diary Queen’s in Ely, Hibbing and Mt. Iron, NorthRidge handed out free blizzards to the community. On this day Dairy Queen donates to the Gillette Children’s Hospital for every blizzard sold.
- Habitat Build – The NorthRidge team helped Habitat for Humanity build one of our amazing members her new home in Biwabik. We were honored by the experience to help make someone’s dream of homeownership come true.
Other large community donations were given to Caring for the Kids Community Nonprofit, which is building an all-inclusive splash pad this summer in Aurora. Hoyt Lakes Library also had a need for new chairs, and our membership was able to help take care of that need.
More Than Credit Union Employees
NorthRidge staff are also active in a wide variety of activities in both local and Statewide positions outside of their primary roles. The management and board of NorthRidge would like to take this time recognize the community leaders on our team:
- Winnie Koivisto – Winnie is the Vice-Chair for Credit Unions for Kids.
- Kevin Kubat: Kevin is a member of the CREW Advisory Council through the Minnesota Credit Union Network. Kevin is also the Vice-Chair of VEDA, the Virginia Economic Development Authority.
- Liz Kallevig: Liz is the Chair of the Apple Tree Day Care Board of Directors. She is also a volunteer for youth hockey and is on the advisory committee for the Business Management program offered through Mesabi College.
- Tyler Lehto: Tyler is the Vice-Chair of the Aurora Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) and a Commissioner for the City of Aurora Planning and Zoning Commission.
- Angela Bjelland: Angela is a board member for the Range Regional Animal Rescue located in Hibbing.
- Jayde Radtke: Jayde is NorthRidge’s liaison to the Hoyt Lakes Chamber of Commerce and is the coordinator for the Miss Hoyt Lakes competition.
- Becky Elko: Becky is the Treasurer for the City of Leonidas and a volunteer at the Eveleth/Gilbert school.
- Marissa Leffel: Marissa serves on the Credit Union Awards Committee with the Minnesota Credit Union Network.
Nicholas Mathiowetz: Nicholas serves as the 2nd Vice-Chair at the Laurentian Chamber of Commerce (LCC). He also serves as co-chair of the Business Development Committee, which has been focused on the Blandin Broadband grant funding, and Emergent Community Leaders Committee. In addition, he also serves as a board member for the Mesabi Humane Society and serves on the CU Trailblazers Leadership Advisory Committee with the Minnesota Credit Union Network.
