America’s Credit Union Museum Launches “A Labor of Love” National Day ofGiving to Support New Exhibit Honoring the Movement’s Unsung Heroes

​This Labor Day season, America’s Credit Union Museum is calling on credit union leaders, members, and supporters nationwide to join A Labor of Love: A Day of Giving on Wednesday, August 27, 2025—a national campaign to honor the everyday people who built the credit union movement from the ground up.

From mill workers and farmers, to teachers and shopkeepers, the credit union movement was born from a powerful idea: that financial institutions should serve people, not profit. This year’s giving day both celebrates that legacy and lays the groundwork for the Museum’s newest permanent exhibit, Woven in History: A Tapestry of Unsung Heroes, opening in September 2025.

The Unsung Heroes exhibit will honor the lesser-known contributors whose work has often gone unrecognized, but who were essential to the growth and success of credit unions nationwide. Through first-person accounts, photographs, historic artifacts, and interactive digital elements, the installation will preserve and share their legacies for generations to come.

A Living Exhibit Built by the Community
What sets this exhibit apart is its participatory nature: Unsung Heroes will grow through the generosity and stories of donors. Each contribution supports the inclusion of a personal story, submitted by individuals or credit unions, into the digital exhibit. Stories will be added on a rotating basis, ensuring a continually evolving, inclusive portrait of the movement’s unsung champions.

The Day of Giving on August 27 is a vital first step in building this exhibit. Funds raised will support the creation of the digital platform, the production and curation of story content, and nationwide outreach to gather stories that might otherwise be lost to history.

Campaign Goal:
Raise $25,000+ to support:
• The launch of a new permanent exhibit: “Unsung Heroes of the Credit Union Movement”.
• Digital storytelling and archival preservation projects.
• Educational outreach that connects today’s members with the origins of the credit union mission.

“We know the credit union movement was shaped not just by its pioneers, but by thousands of everyday people whose passion and purpose brought financial access to their communities,” said Stephanie Smith, Executive Director of America’s Credit Union Museum. “Unsung Heroes is about honoring those people and the Labor of Love campaign will help us tell their stories.”

How to Get Involved
Donate:
• Donations of $100+ are eligible for a name or tribute on the Faces of the Movement digital wall.
• All donors: Listed on our Giving Day Honor Roll and receive a digital badge. Partner: Organizations can sponsor a matching gift, promote the campaign, or share a founding story
Spread the Word: Use #LaborOfLoveCU to inspire others to give and share Campaign Highlights:
• Peer-to-Peer Fundraising: Our Board of Directors is leading a grassroots fundraising effort—join or support them in celebrating CU history.
• Digital Tribute Wall: Donors can honor mentors, founders, or CU champions by adding their name and photo to our tribute wall.
• Edward Filene Spotlight: We’re honoring the visionary who helped bring credit unions to America and stood for labor dignity, fairness, and financial access.

Important Dates:
- Now – August 26: Campaign promotion, story submissions, and early gifts
- Wednesday, August 27: Labor of Love Day of Giving
- Labor Day Weekend: Thank-you messages and digital tribute wall launch

To donate, submit a story, or request more information, visit: www.acumuseum.org/alaboroflove

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