Sunmark Honors Four With the Sunmark International Credit Union Day "ICU" Awards

Sunmark Credit Union and the Sunmark Charitable Community Foundation support the credit union philosophy of people helping people, as well as investing in the communities we serve. Wednesday (10/16) at Revolution Hall in Troy, Sunmark honored one individual and three organizations who have made their mark in the Capital Region by contributing their time, talent or treasure to better their community, thus living out the credit union philosophy. 

Three organizations, the Boys and Girls Club of the Capital Area, Women's Employment Resource Center, and American Red Cross of Northeastern New York each received the Sunmark People Helping People Award. The organizations honored focused in one or more of the Sunmark Foundations pillars of giving; financial education and wellness, affordable housing and transportation, economic and/or social development. 

Renee Fahey received the Susan V. Siegel Community Service Leader Award for her work with Street Soldiers. Soldiers is a grass root organization that helps provide hot meals and needed essentials to the homeless and less fortunate. The organization was founded in 2016 by Renee and Mike Fahey. The Fahey’s use their home, garage and vehicles for storing and transporting all the meals, clothing, coolers, drinks and tables for the Friday evening event in Academy Park. The organization has since grown to include Troy as well as Schenectady.

In addition to the ICU Awards, Sunmark also asked staff to nominate the coworker they believed best lived the people helping people mission not only while at work, but in their volunteerism and efforts when they leave for the day. Sunmark recognized Nereida Stewart a NAVY veteran who spends countless hours volunteering with her local legion. She assists at the Stewie Open which is a golf tournament in honor of her late husband, also a NAVY Veteran, which benefits the Southern Saratoga County Veterans. Nereida also hosts breakfast or dinner at the Ronald McDonald House at least once a month with friends, coworkers, family members. 

The day concluded with the Sunmark Charitable Community Foundation presaenting a $5,000 check to support the Music Therapy program at Albany Medical Center. Sunmark employees came together to “dip with it, sip with it, and put our hips in it” to enable important supportive music therapy for patients at Albany Med by taking “The Git Up Challenge” the viral hit by Blanco Brown. Sunmark offered to donate $1 to the program, for every comment, like, or share given by viewers of the Sunmark video on Sunmark's social media channels.

The music therapy program is funded solely through grants, gifts, and donations. The Children’s Hospital has a part-time, licensed, board certified music therapist on staff. She works with infant, adolescents, and teens. Music therapy is available to all pediatric patients, including the Melodies Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders, In-Patient, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, and the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit. Most music therapy is done one-on-one within the patient’s room. Parents and siblings are encouraged to participate when they can and when appropriate. Group sessions are also offered within the play rooms of the inpatient units. These techniques may include: song writing, movement, guided imagery, instrument play, singing, CD recording, and music assisted relaxation. 

Watch the videos below to learn more about the Sunmark ICU Awards Honorees