SunWest Credit Union Awards $20,000 to Help Community Recover from Wildfire
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Funds will assist families, individuals and communities impacted by Aspen Acres Fire
SunWest Credit Union, Pueblo, Colorado awarded $20,000 to the United Way of Southern Colorado. SunWest stepped up to provide $5,000 to support the communities they serve. They also received a 3-to-1 matching grant of $15,000 through FHLBank Topeka's Community Assistance Recovery Effort (CARE) Program.
The funds will provide critical support to support wildfire and recovery in communities affected by the Aspen Acres Fire through the United Way of Southern Colorado. The financial contribution to the nonprofit will give them the flexibility to respond to the needs of residents that aren't met through other in-kind donations.
At SunWest Credit Union, our dedication to our community extends beyond financial services. The Aspen Acres Fire affected so many people close to our home. We felt we needed to get involved and provide support however we could. It wasn't just a wildfire affecting a mountain town, it was directly impacting our friends, families, and neighbors. United Way of Southern Colorado has done so much for those affected by the wildfire. With our contribution and the help of the grant from FHLBank, we were able to donate much needed funds that will provide critical support to the families, friends, and loved ones in those communities impacted by the Aspen Acres Fire," said Leslie Shepard, President and CEO of SunWest Credit Union.
SunWest Credit Union, an FHLBank Topeka member since 2009, has access to products and services to help their community thrive. The CARE Program was created in 2025 to help FHLBank member financial institutions support their communities after a FEMA-declared disaster. The program matches $3 for every $1 up to $75,000 when an FHLBank member contributes to disaster relief efforts.
"Community financial institutions are at the forefront of supporting their communities through difficult times. We designed the CARE Program to amplify the contributions our members are making when a natural disaster occurs," said Jeff Kuzbel, President and CEO of FHLBank Topeka. "We are proud to support SunWest Credit Union's efforts."
About SunWest Credit Union:
SunWest Credit Union is the oldest credit union in southern Colorado, originally founded as Pueblo Teachers' Credit Union in June 1935. From modest beginnings at the home of one determined schoolteacher, the credit union now was four branches serving more than 12,000 members.
Since 1935, SunWest has proudly served individuals, families, and now small businesses in southern Colorado. As a locally rooted credit union, they believe banking should be accessible, personal, and built on long-term relationships.
About FHLBank Topeka:
FHLBank Topeka is one of 11 Federal Home Loan Banks that accesses the capital markets to provide liquidity and funding for its members. With more than $80 billion in assets and $4 billion in capital, FHLBank Topeka is a strong, reliable source of liquidity for its 641 member financial institutions in Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska and Oklahoma.