American Eagle Financial Credit Union Gives $28,095 to Support Local Nonprofits

American Eagle Financial Credit Union (American Eagle) continues to strengthen local communities through its signature Cash Back to the Community program. During the final quarter of 2025, American Eagle donated to three local nonprofits—Beat Parkinson’s Today, Inc.; East Hartford Summer Youth Festival, Inc.; and Bread for Life—each received $9,365 in member-driven donations, bringing the program’s total giving to more than $631,000 since its launch in 2020.

“Our members play an important role in creating positive change in our communities,” said Howard Brady, American Eagle President & CEO. “This past quarter, we were proud to donate to three deserving local nonprofits, supporting programs that make a real difference every day.”

Every quarter, American Eagle gives back one percent of its credit and debit card interchange income—the fees collected from card transactions—to support three local nonprofit organizations. Through the Cash Back to the Community program, members and the public help decide where the funds go by nominating and voting for their favorite organizations. The three with the most votes each receive a donation.

In this quarterly round of the Cash Back to the Community program, the following three organizations received $9,365 apiece:

Beat Parkinson’s Today, Inc., East Hartford

Beat Parkinson’s Today’s mission is to provide people who have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease with hope and the opportunity to live their lives with confidence and strength. Our program encourages intense exercise through high intensity interval training which is personalized for each individual. Beat PD Today also provides emotional and social support and education to give participants a sense of empowerment over their destiny.

“With the support of American Eagle Financial Credit Union, we are expanding our reach across Connecticut by launching new satellite locations that provide our evidence-based exercise program for people living with Parkinson’s. By reducing financial barriers, this funding creates greater access to movement, connection, and ongoing support within the local Parkinson’s community,” said Krista Slot, Communications Director, Beat Parkinson's Today.

East Hartford Summer Youth Festival, Inc., Glastonbury

East Hartford Summer Youth Festival, Inc. was created in 1964 to provide an opportunity for young people to develop and showcase their talents and to participate in producing a full-scale musical, literally “learning the ropes” from singing and dancing to lighting and set construction.  Invaluable skills such as teamwork and performing for an audience are instilled, lifelong friendships are made, and musical fun is had by all, especially our audiences.

“East Hartford Summer Youth Festival is incredibly grateful to receive the Cash Back to the Community grant from American Eagle,” said Greer Cunningham-Pattison, Executive Director. “Our nonprofit community theater has worked to provide the East Hartford community with opportunities to experience top-notch musical theater since 1964. We believe that the youth of East Hartford deserve to shine and these grant funds will allow us to keep the spotlight on theater kids (and theater kids at heart) in our community. Whole families will benefit this summer during our annual summer show. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for the support!"

Bread for Life, Southington

Bread for Life is a community supported human service organization that feeds, provides fellowship, affirms dignity, and builds connections to those experiencing food insecurity within the Southington community.

“Bread for Life is a community-supported human service organization that feeds, provides fellowship, affirms dignity, and builds connections for those experiencing food insecurity within the Southington Community,” said Missy Cipriano, Executive Director of Bread for Life. “Our vision is, ‘so no one goes hungry,’ and our core values are, ‘hope, service, generosity, integrity, affirmation of human dignity, compassion, and respectful for all.’ The funds that are being given to Bread for Life by American Eagle Financial Credit Union will be used to support our ongoing costs of food, for which we are serving more than 160 meals daily for those in the community. Bread for Life serves each person through the lens of ‘hunger is more than food’. These dollars will help us support the other needs beyond food and packaging.”

Get ready to make your voice heard! Nominations for the next round of Cash Back to the Community runs from January 19 through February 8. American Eagle members and the public are invited to vote for local organizations making a difference in our communities between March 9 - 22. Winners will be announced early April. Learn more at AmericanEagle.org/Learn/About-AEFCU/Community-Involvement/cashbacktothecommunity.