ROCK ISLAND, ILLINOIS (March 28, 2025) — RIA Federal Credit Union is celebrating its ninetieth birthday by giving a gift to the community — ninety acts of kindness, a series of altruistic acts including partnering with charities, donating time and energy to community groups, and taking part in positive activities to help people.
“We truly believe in being a partner to the community, that’s where it all starts,” said Steve Ducey, Chief Experience Officer, RIA Federal Credit Union. “The notion of giving back to the community and partnering for acts of kindness is nothing new, but we want to highlight the partners we’ve had in the community as we celebrate ninety years of being a part of it.”
RIA opened nine decades ago as the credit union for police and firefighters of the Rock Island Arsenal. A year later, it expanded to service all Arsenal employees. Since then, RIA has grown to serve people throughout the Quad-Cities, the Midwest, and worldwide.
However, even after close to a century, the credit union’s core values remain steadfast.
“What makes us successful is our roots in the community and we truly do care about the communities we serve,” Ducey said. “Being able to help people in the community is one of the best parts of what we do.”
RIA partners with dozens of schools, nursing homes, and other local organizations on a regular basis, including HAVLife, to help realize the potential of at-risk youth; the YWCA, contributing to its after-school programs and free lunches for children; and a number of veterans organizations, including the Honor Flight. Last year alone, the RIA golf outing raised over $40,000 for local veterans’ groups.
“Some of our biggest and longest-standing partnerships are with veterans’ organizations, like the Honor Flight,” Ducey said. “We have a strong belief in helping the people who served this great country, and it’s an honor to do so.”
The giving is shared throughout the organization, Ducey said, as many employees donate their time to causes like Junior Achievement and others.
“It’s not just about contributing funds, it’s about time,” he said. “We allow employees to take paid time off to volunteer and contribute to the organizations that are important to them personally as well.
“We try to cover as wide a net as possible, covering both big charities and smaller organizations,” he added. “That’s why we’re doing this. We realize we have an event, our ninetieth anniversary, and instead of just celebrating our own longevity, we wanted it to be more impactful for all our communities we serve, because when it comes down to it, that’s what’s most important to us.”
RIA will be sharing more news of its upcoming events celebrating the 90 Acts of Kindness in the upcoming months. For more information about RIA and its relationship with the community, see www.riafcu.com.
