Introducing the MCU Foundation

Helping New Yorkers Build Generational Wealth and Eliminating Poverty in NYC

The MCU Foundation is dedicated to improving the lives of our community and members through financial education and empowerment. Join us in giving back to the everyday heroes that make our city the greatest in the world.

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MCU Foundation: Our Love Letter to NYC

Our mission to serve New Yorkers goes above and beyond just banking. As an NYC institution that’s been around for over 100 years, we work every day to support, educate, and uplift the hardworking heroes in our community.

Established by MCU’s executive leadership team, the mission of the MCU Foundation is simple: to help New Yorkers build generational wealth and eliminate poverty in New York City.

Real People, Real Impact

Learn how the MCU Foundation is helping New Yorkers across the five boroughs unlock new levels of economic stability and financial growth - made possible by the donations of our Foundation Members and supporters like you.

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Donations

$1.5 Million

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Families Helped

20 Thousand

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Projects Launched

185 This Year

Changing Lives, One Program at a Time

Explore our latest program reports and learn how the MCU Foundation’s work supports our community.

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XX Million

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Join Us For Upcoming Events

Connect with the MCU Foundation in person.

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The Hero Gala

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MCU Foundation Members

Headshot - George Chacon

President

George Chacon

George Chacon serves as MCUF’s inaugural president, bringing a dedication to New York City’s LMI (low- and moderate-income) communities to the role. As a first-generation American, born and raised in New York City and a product of the NYC Public School system, George knows, first hand, how difficult it is for families to climb the socioeconomic ladder. Helping to lead the Foundation is his way of giving back to the city that has given him so much.


George serves as MCU’s Chief Strategy Officer, and oversees Strategic Planning, Digital Channels, Transformation, Organizational Agility, Marketing, and Community Engagement. George has over 20 years of retail, strategy, and innovation experience with banks and credit unions.

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Secretary

Melissa Hartzell

Melissa Hartzell is secretary of MCU Foundation. Much of her inspiration comes from her lived experiences as a young mother with very little outside help. Putting off college to provide for her daughter, she vowed that she would always give her help to anyone who would accept it. She has since served on non-profit boards and has seen first-hand the tremendous impact that a little support and guidance can have on not only an individual, but on their family and ultimately on their community. Melissa firmly believes that access to quality education is a key component in eliminating poverty and critical for the future success of New Yorkers, from elementary and high school, to the opportunity to attend a trade school or college. 


A strategic executive leader with over 25 years of progressive experience in operations, credit risk management, and lending, Melissa’s recent focus has been on executing transformational business strategies through cross-functional projects. She currently serves as MCU’s Chief Lending Officer.

Headshot - Frank Madeira

Treasurer

Frank Madeira

Frank Madeira serves as MCU Foundation’s treasurer. The child of an NYC union carpenter and a housecleaner – both of whom arrived as immigrants to the US with just the shirts on their backs – who eventually raised 5 children, Frank’s serving on the MCU Foundation is his way of paying it forward, helping families to rise above their socio-economic challenges.


Frank is MCU’s Chief Financial Officer. An experienced banking finance executive, he joined MCU from Affinity Federal Credit Union where he most recently served as Senior Vice President for Finance & Payments. Before getting into the credit union industry, Frank spent many years in banking at TD Bank and CIT. He has extensive experience in treasury, accounting, strategic planning and capital markets, as well as a deep understanding of lending, payments, deposits and retail operations.

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Director

Toni-Ann Sforza

Toni-Ann Sforza is a director of the MCU Foundation. The grandchild of immigrants, she grew up in Yonkers, NY, with extended family that has served New York City as Teamsters, teachers, police, and firefighters – and run a small business in the Bronx for over 40 years – so she has a vested interest in ensuring that all the residents of NYC have the opportunity to succeed and thrive.


Toni-Ann is MCU’s Chief Human Resources Officer, overseeing Retail Banking, Contact Center, Member Support Services, HR, Learning & Development, Financial Crimes, Corporate Security and Facilities. For more than 18 years, she has served in various leadership roles within New York’s financial services sector, most recently with Amalgamated Bank and Apple Bank.

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Director

Juan Luna

Juan Luna serves as a director of the MCU Foundation, bringing a dedication to supporting New York City’s LMI (low- and moderate-income) communities to the role. Juan was born Lima, Peru and raised in Los Angeles CA. Working in the Credit Union movement since his first job, he knows the importance of serving members of all classes, and how families can benefit by having a strong financial foundation, as support of the LMI communities is part of the mission of the Credit Union movement. Lending his support to leading the Foundation is his way of giving back to the great city of New York.


As MCU’s Chief Information Officer, Juan oversees the Technology team which encompasses Network Infrastructure, System Development, Computer Operations, ATM Operations and Systems Application Support. Juan has over 30 years of experience innovating with credit unions.

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Director

Andrew Weltman

Andrew Weltman is a director of the MCU Foundation. With a dedication to New York City, Andrew is a longtime board member of the community-based nonprofit New York Communities Organizing Fund Inc.


Andrew joined the MCU executive team in the autumn of 2022. He comes to MCU with a broad background in legal affairs and a deep understanding of MCU’s operations and its membership. Having most recently served as the Director of Legal at SeedFi, a mission driven financial technology firm, he was previously Vice President/In-House Counsel at Union Privilege/Union Plus where he oversaw the development of financial services and insurance products for millions of members of AFL-CIO affiliated organizations.

Get in Touch

Email us directly at MCUfoundation@nymcu.org with any inquiries.

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