Pacific Marine Credit Union Finished in Third Place at the Credit Union Chili Challenge
August 10, 2016
San Diego, CA — (Originally posted by CU Insight) SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union is the hottest credit union in the country.
Well, at least when it comes to chili.
The $12 billion, Santa Ana, Calif.-based cooperative won Xpress Data, Inc.’s 4th Annual Credit Union Chili Challenge Aug. 6, beating out 18 other credit union teams. The SchoolsFirst “Chili Dawgs” won $5,000 from XDI, which will be donated on behalf of the credit union to Children’s Hospital of Orange County.
In total, the event sponsored by the San Diego-based XDI, a document services company that exclusively serves credit unions nationwide, donated $14,000 to credit union supported charities.
“It’s exciting to see the momentum of this event continue to grow,” XDI Founder Mike Cooper said. “Credit unions love to compete with each other and they love to raise money for charity.”
Chili Con Credit Union, from the $950 million Xceed Financial Credit Union of El Segundo, Calif., won second place and a $3,500 check it will donate to the Children’s Miracle Network.
Third place was awarded to the $750 million Pacific Marine Credit Union’s team, Chili’s a Blazin’. The Oceanside, Calif.-based credit union will donate its $1,500 prize to Rady Children’s Hospital.
Other winners included the People’s Choice winner, which was awarded to another team from Pacific Marine Credit Union, 55 Island Style Spice. It also will donate its $2,000 prize to San Diego’s Rady Children’s Hospital.
Chili de Janeiro, the $237 million Cabrillo Credit Union’s nod to the 2016 summer Olympics, won the Best Booth award. The San Diego-based credit union will donate its $1,000 prize to Credit Unions for Kids.
Team Backdraft from the $1 billion Firefighters First Credit Union of Los Angeles will donate its $1,000 Showmanship prize to the Fire Family Foundation.
The event attracted hundreds of race fans at the world famous Del Mar Racetrack, spreading awareness of credit union membership. And, because the event was officially sanctioned by the International Chili Society, all of the Credit Unions that placed in the Chili Challenge will advance to compete in the ICS World’s Championship Chili Cookoff in Reno, Nev., Oct. 21-23 for an opportunity to win even more money for their charities.
Credit union community celebrity judges included Corelation President Theresa Benavidez, Security Expert Jim Stickley, Credit Union Times Managing Editor Natasha Chilingerian, Credit Union Journal West Coast Correspondent Michael Bartlett, CHOC Vice President Dennis McClellan, CU Broadcast host Mike Lawson, CEOs from numerous credit unions including Pacific Marine, Cabrillo, Point Loma and Firefighter’s First, and Carol Hancock, CEO of the International Chili Society.
About Xpress Data, Inc.
Based in San Diego, Calif., and founded in 1995, Xpress Data (XDI) started as an all-purpose digital printing and mailing operation. In 1999, the company made a major strategic decision to focus entirely on the credit union industry. Today, XDI serves more than 130 progressive credit unions, collectively representing $130 billion in assets. Additional information is available at www.xdi.com.
About Pacific Marine Credit Union
Since 1952, Pacific Marine Credit Union (PMCU) has been making a difference: helping people with their financial needs and giving back to the local communities. PMCU is owned and governed by its members, operating not-for-profit, but for service. This allows the revenue generated by its services to be given back in the form of lower interest rates on loans, reduced fees, attractive earnings on savings and investments, and around-the-clock access to the latest electronic services.
PMCU is open to everyone who lives or works in San Diego, Riverside, and San Bernardino Counties. Pacific Marine Credit Union is federally insured by the National Credit Union Administration and is an Equal Housing Lender.