Employee-led fundraising effort inspires matching gifts from Addition Financial and Addition Financial Foundation
LAKE MARY, Fla. – In response to the devastating earthquakes that struck Venezuela in late June, team members at Addition Financial Credit Union came together to raise $6,000 to support humanitarian relief efforts for those affected by the disaster.
The initiative began when several Addition Financial team members with personal ties to Venezuela proposed a companywide “Jeans Day” fundraiser to senior leadership. The proposal became action in July when team members across the credit union’s branches and offices donated a minimum of $5 in exchange for wearing jeans to work. The grassroots effort generated approximately $2,000 from 158 individual donors working at Addition Financial, a record for this type of donation drive at the credit union.
Inspired by the overwhelming participation, both Addition Financial Credit Union and the Addition Financial Foundation each contributed matching gifts of $2,000, bringing the total donation to $6,000.
The funds will benefit the I Love Venezuela Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting established humanitarian organizations throughout Venezuela by providing critical resources to communities in need. The donation will help assist relief and recovery efforts following the powerful earthquakes that caused widespread devastation across northern Venezuela.
“Our hearts immediately went out to everyone affected by this tragedy,” said Juan Velasco, Contact Center Manager at Addition Financial Credit Union and one of the organizers of the fundraiser. “Many of us have family, friends and loved ones in Venezuela, and we’ve seen firsthand how deeply these earthquakes have impacted the people and communities we care about. What made this effort so meaningful was watching team members from every part of the organization come together so quickly and generously. It was a powerful reminder that even from hundreds of miles away, we can make a real difference when we unite behind a common purpose.”
Cristina Lehman, Executive Director of the Addition Financial Foundation, said the generosity displayed by employees made the Foundation’s decision to contribute an easy one.
“When our team members stepped forward with this incredible show of compassion, our Foundation Board didn’t hesitate to join them,” Lehman said. “Their generosity reflects the caring culture that defines Addition Financial, and we were honored to amplify their impact with a matching gift. Supporting our team members as they support communities in need is exactly what the Foundation exists to do.”
As of July 15, donors from across the world have contributed nearly $7 million to the I Love Venezuela Foundation emergency relief fund to provide urgently needed assistance including food and clean water, medical assistance, and temporary shelter.
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About Addition Financial Credit Union:
Addition Financial Credit Union is a trusted banking and financial education partner that members of the Central Florida community rely on to help them along their financial journey. Founded in 1937, Addition Financial is a not-for-profit financial cooperative headquartered in Lake Mary, Florida with more than $3.8 billion in total assets. As a member-owned credit union, Addition Financial puts the financial well-being of its more than 259,000 members at the heart of everything it does. With 36 full-service branches, 11 student-run high school branches, and financial products designed to provide better saving and loan rates and lower fees, Addition Financial is constantly growing and evolving to meet the needs of its members. Addition Financial is the Official Financial Institution of the UCF Knights and owns the naming rights of the Addition Financial Arena on the University of Central Florida campus. Addition Financial was named as one of the “Best Credit Unions for 2026” by Newsweek. For more information, visit AdditionFi.com.
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