Summer is well underway, and we have been taking advantage of all the nice weather with parades, cookouts, and community events that bring us all together! We have enjoyed the opportunity to celebrate this season with our community and see all the friendly faces that make the Copper Country such a wonderful place to live. From loan appointments and financial literacy to fun outdoor events, the beginning of our summer has been a busy one and we are excited to share all the highlights with you in this month’s newsletter.
On Wednesday, June 25, 2025, we hosted our annual Member Appreciation Cookout at our branch in Houghton. J&J Broadcasting and Mitch Lake were on-site cooking up Vollwerth’s brats and dogs and bringing the fun with great radio coverage, making for an extra memorable day.
Guests enjoyed face-painting and cornhole and had the opportunity to enter a drawing for some fantastic prizes! Over $1,000 in prizes were awarded across all age groups and included things like a 22” Blackstone Grill, a child’s art easel, a Yeti Cooler, Beats headphones, and more!
With perfect grilling weather, we were thrilled to welcome hundreds of members and their families to this year’s cookout. Thank you to everyone who came out to celebrate with us, and a big shoutout to J&J Broadcasting, Mitch Lake, and our amazing Breakwater team for making this year’s cookout such a success!
One of our favorite events of the year – Bridgefest! This year’s parade theme was Children’s Books & Stories, and we had a blast bringing it to life! Our parade entry was inspired by the classic storybook Charlotte’s Web, complete with a big red barn, Wilbur the pig, and of course, Charlotte the spider!
Charlotte’s Web of Savings encouraged financial wellness with the words “Save, Budget, Plan,” and the credit union themed coloring books we handed out reinforced that message in a fun, family-friendly way.
A big thank you to Copper Country Ford for lending us a beautiful new truck for this year’s parade, and to all our staff members and their families who walked with us in the parade.
On a final note, we loved discovering that Charlotte’s Web was published the same year that our credit union was established – 1952! A timeless classic paired with 72 years of serving our community made for the perfect Bridgefest celebration.
If you missed us at Bridgefest, check us out at Chassell Strawberry Festival on July 12th!
Want to receive our monthly newsletters straight to your inbox? Subscribe below!
Subscribe HereThe month of June provided us with some great new opportunities to spread Financial Literacy in our community! We teamed up with Michigan Tech to offer two educational workshops for students participating in the Center for Educational Outreach’s TRIO Upward Bound summer youth program.
The TRIO Upward Bound is designed to motivate high school students from income-eligible backgrounds and/or families where their parents do not have a bachelor’s degree to pursue post-secondary education. The six-week summer program offers students the opportunity to explore a variety of subjects, engage in hands-on activities, and learn new skills from community partners.
Breakwater was honored to teach these ambitious and bright students. The first class dove into the importance of banking, earning money, developing smart spending habits, and budgeting for adult expenses. Students were given budget worksheets designed to simulate life as college students. They were able to choose part-time jobs and side gigs, then budget for rent, utilities, transportation, grocery expenses, and other expenses they may face once they graduate from high school. The budget worksheets helped students learn what to expect when they start living on their own and how to plan for that reality.
The second class offered practical tips for living frugally and introduced students to credit. In this class, they learned the importance of building credit, how to establish credit, and tips for maintaining a good credit score. To reinforce these concepts, we played a game of “Credit Jenga.” Each student started with a credit score of 620. As they pulled blocks from the Jenga tower, they revealed real-life scenarios—both positive and negative—that could move their score up or down. Students kept track of their scores throughout the game to see where everyone landed by the end. It was a great hands-on way to see how everyday choices can impact your financial future.
Breakwater is pleased to announce that it has received a $1,500 grant from the Michigan Credit Union Foundation! This grant was used to support the purchase of new tablecloths and informational banners for our Financial Reality Fairs. We were able to use them for the first time at the L’Anse Financial Reality Fair this past May and look forward to using them at even more events in the coming year. We’re grateful for this financial boost as we continue to grow and improve our efforts to promote financial literacy in our community.
Breakwater continues to seek opportunities to provide financial literacy education in our communities. If your school or organization would like to partner with us, please contact Breakwater’s Marketing & Community Relations Coordinator, Kayleigh White: Kayleigh.white@breakwaterfcu.org . If you are interested in volunteering at future financial literacy events, please join our volunteer network for updates.
During the month of June, we were proud to sponsor several local events, including the Good Times Summer Music Slam, Keweenaw Brewfest, the Wyandotte Ladies League, the Omega House ATV Ride, and an exciting new addition, Boochmania!
Thanks to the kindness of our members, we were also able to support 31 Backpacks and SKY (Simple Kindness for Youth) through donations collected in our lobby boxes. Thank you to all of our members who contributed!
Giving back to the community isn’t just something we do; it’s at the heart of who we are. Volunteering our time reflects both our mission and the credit union philosophy of “People Helping People.” We’re proud to live these values every day by supporting the organizations and individuals who make the Copper Country such a great place to call home.
Our team has a goal of volunteering 168 hours this year, and we are proud to announce that we’ve made it over 50% of the way towards reaching that goal. To celebrate this meaningful milestone, our team celebrated with a well-earned lunch from Rodeo.
If you have a volunteer opportunity that you think we should be a part of, please contact our Marketing & Community Relations Coordinator, Kayleigh White, at Kayleigh.White@breakwaterfcu.org and let us know!
We’re excited to team up with the Keweenaw Co+op for our first collaborative event, Key Ingredients, on Friday, July 18, 2025, from 6 to 8 PM on Quincy Street in downtown Hancock.
Breakwater will be set up alongside Keweenaw Co+op, to hand out information, swag, and engage with community members. We will have a fun financial literacy game to test your money smarts, so be sure to stop by and say hi.
Our collaboration with the Keweenaw Co+op is part of our celebration of the International Year of Co-ops.
Breakwater Federal Credit Union will be closed on Friday, July 4th in observance of Independence Day. We’ll reopen on Saturday with normal business hours. While we’re away, members can still access their accounts anytime through online banking or any of our ATMs. Wishing you a safe and happy holiday!
Plant your money where it grows! When you open a share certificate at Breakwater FCU, you’ll earn a higher rate of return than with your primary share. It’s a smart, steady way to grow your savings—no green thumb required.
Share certificates start with a minimum deposit of $500 for adults 18+, and $125 for youth ages 0-17. Please note, early withdrawal penalties may be imposed for withdrawals before maturity.
Looking for a used vehicle or have one to sell? Look no further than our Member Vehicle Lot!
Our Member Vehicle Lot is a convenient place for members to sell vehicles locally. Members can display their vehicles for two-week periods from late spring through early fall. Each member may reserve up to two non-consecutive two‑week slots per season. To sign up, simply call or stop by the credit union, complete the vehicle lot agreement, and you’re good to go.
We focus on more than just your financial journey.
At Breakwater, being member-owned means every decision is made with you in mind. We believe in giving back, getting involved, and making a real impact right here in the Copper Country.
Because life is better when we do good together.
700 E. Sharon Ave.,
Houghton, MI 49931
Call or Text: 906.482.5005
Fax: 906.482.2451
Email: info@breakwaterfcu.org
© Copyright 2022 Breakwater Federal Credit Union | Privacy Policy
