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TUFCU Honorees Celebrated at Annual Fundraising Banquet
By Tricia Hall
Sojourner’s Truth Reporter
Toledo Urban Federal Credit Union (TUFCU) selected 19
individuals to honor during their annual appreciation
banquet held Saturday, November 19, 2016. The 20th
annual banquet opened with a warm greeting from mistress of
ceremony Alexis Means of 13 ABC Toledo News, then an opening
prayer delivered by Rev. Tim Pettaway, the pastor of Walk
the Word Church.
The program continued with official greetings delivered by
TUFCU president Fletcher Word, Building Better Futures
Update by Deborah Beyer a TUFCU board member, and then a
moving musical selection presented by Terrin Jennings.
Ann Riddle of the Northwest Oho Scholarship Fund, launched
the presentation portion of the banquet, immediately
followed by Suzette Cowell.
“On July 21, 1996 we started our first day of business with
prayer, and we have the prayer going throughout the past 20
years. Each morning we pray for you, our members and for our
community, for we known that prayer is key,” said Cowell,
CEO and Treasurer of TUFCU.
The 2016 honorees: Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur, Deborah
Barnett, Bishop Edward Cook, George Cowell Jr, Bishop Robert
Culp, David Fleetwood, Richard LaValley Jr and Robin
LaValley of The LaValley Foundation, Edwin and Eddye Mabrey,
retired TPS Sergeant Anita Madison, Doni Miller, Edward
Reiter, Pastor John Robert, Frances Smith, Bishop Duane and
Thelma Tisdale, Roosevelt Gant, Sean Simmons and David
Smith. All of the awardees were honored for the decades of
help they have contributed to the TUFCU community.
“I congratulate the credit union on two decades worth of
work. This institution is one of the best achievements of
this community,” said Congresswoman Kaptur during her
acceptance speech.
“I knew Suzette was supposed to run this credit union. I
applaud her for staying the course. I thank the credit union
and board for their work,” said Barnett during her
acceptance speech.
Annual banquet sponsors incude: First Federal Bank, Fifth
Third Bank, Northwest Ohio Scholarship Fund, First Church of
God in Toledo, The Indiana Avenue Missionary Baptist Church,
Toledo Lucas County Port Authority, Adam and Katie Sloan
McDonald’s restaurants, The Fair Housing Center, Jim White
Honda, Area Office on Aging, Abundant Life Ministries,
KeyBank, and The Blade.
The TUFCU was established on July 21, 1996 and focuses on
achieving economic empowerment through education for its
members to be active partners in the community.
Current board of directors are: Suzette Cowell, Lawrence
Friedman, Adele Jasion, Pastor Cordell Jenkins, Edwin Mabrey,
Debra Miles, Frances Smith, Ray Wood and Fletcher Word;
founding members: Bishop Duane Tisdale, Bishop Terry Cook,
Pastor Robert Culp, Minister Rick Hunter, Suzette Cowell,
Alto King JR, Edwin Mabrey, Ken Anderson, James Cobham, and
Roosevelt Gant.
“Everyone who serves on this board wants to serve the
community,” said Mabrey, founding and current board member.
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