As we move into the spring season (fingers crossed), we are excited to share updates about the many projects Breakwater has been working on in support of our mission and vision. From expanded financial literacy initiatives and community partnerships to our upcoming 72nd Annual Business Meeting & Dinner, our calendar is packed with opportunities to connect this spring. Read on to see how these efforts reflect our ongoing commitment to building lifelong relationships and making a positive impact in the communities we serve.
Supporting financial literacy has been an important part of Breakwater’s commitment to our members and community. Increased collaboration with community partners and area schools has led to expanded programming and new events. Through these initiatives, we hope to make financial education accessible, engaging, and practical for individuals of all ages.
A new collaboration between Breakwater, the Copper Country Intermediate School District (CCISD), and the Michigan Small Business Development Center (MI SBDC), brought entrepreneurship to life for business students in the CCISD’s Career and Technical Education program.
Students were actively involved in some of the planning details. Matthew Randell with SmartCreative worked with students in Steve Kass’s class to develop a logo for the event, while Kayleigh White from Breakwater worked with Rhonda Nachtigall’s class to learn best practices for writing and sending press releases to media contacts.
Many community members came together to make the event as successful as possible. From banners donated by Designotype to lunches provided by Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa Community College and the many business professionals who volunteered their time to serve as judges, speakers, and mentors, the event was truly a community effort.
The event began with keynote presentations from Marty Fittante, CEO of InvestUP and Build U.P., and Jim Baker, Senior Associate Vice President for Research and Innovation at Michigan Technological University, who shared insights from their professional journeys and discussed how entrepreneurship can drive innovation and create opportunity.
Following the keynote session, students rotated through a variety of activities that highlighted different aspects of entrepreneurship. These included the Pike Tank pitch competition, where students presented their business ideas to a panel of judges, and a new entrepreneurship simulation designed by Breakwater Federal Credit Union that challenged students to budget for real-world business decisions related to marketing, compliance, staffing, and operations.
Students also had the opportunity to network with professionals from local organizations that support entrepreneurs in our region through a guided networking activity called Business Bingo. The experience helped students build confidence by interacting with professionals while learning about resources available to new and growing businesses in our region.
This event was made possible through the support of numerous local businesses and organizations that volunteered their time to participate as mentors, judges, and activity hosts. We would like to express our gratitude to the keynote speakers, participating businesses, community partners, and individuals who helped bring the event to life.
With the success of this year’s Pike Tank, we are excited to bring the event back next year and continue expanding opportunities for students to learn about entrepreneurship in our region. Events like Pike Tank highlight the power of collaboration between educators, businesses, and community partners in preparing students for future opportunities.
Join us Wednesday, March 18 for a Lunch & Learn with the Baraga Chamber of Commerce. Operations Specialist, Michelle Monticello, and Marketing & Community Relations Coordinator, Kayleigh White, will be giving a presentation about fraud prevention in personal finance. From imposter scams and phishing to job scams, identity theft, and tech support scams, we will share how to spot fraud and keep yourself safe in a rapidly changing digital environment.
The event will take place in the Baraga Chamber of Commerce board room at 1 N. Main St.
L’Anse, MI 49946 from 11:30AM to 1:00PM.
April is National Financial Literacy Month, and we are excited to celebrate with a variety of activities for community members of all ages. During the month of April, we will host two Financial Literacy Fairs, one at L’Anse Area High Schools with both Baraga and L’Anse juniors and seniors, and the other at Houghton High School.
A Financial Reality Fair is a one-month simulation of adult living where students choose a career, then visit ten to twelve different stations where they must make adult decisions, such as whether to split the cost of an apartment with a roommate, what type of vehicle they can afford, and how to manage everyday expenses within their budget. At the end of the simulation, students review their monthly budget to see whether their income covered their expenses or if they would need to make adjustments. The activity helps students better understand the financial decisions adults face each day and the importance of planning and budgeting for the future.
Volunteers are needed. The L’Anse Reality Fair will take place from 10AM-1PM on April 2nd, and the Houghton fair will take place April 7th from 8AM-12PM. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Kayleigh White at Kayleigh.white@breakwaterfcu.org or by calling 906-481-4107.
Breakwater is teaming up with Michigan Tech’s GEAR UP and TRIO Pre-College Programs to host the first-ever Bright Futures Fair on April 8 from 6-8PM at the Hancock Community Hub. The fair is free to attend and open to all Copper Country ISD high school students and their families.
Families are welcome to try Breakwater’s Entrepreneurship Simulation, stop by the Tech Tutors drop-in tutoring station, and learn helpful study and organization tips at the TRIO Study Skills Table. Parents can explore financial resources from Breakwater, and younger siblings will have the chance to enjoy fun, age-appropriate money activities.
One exciting part of the event is that Copper Country ISD high school students who complete Breakwater’s Entrepreneurship Simulation will be entered for a chance to win prizes, including a full-ride scholarship to a course of their choosing through Michigan Tech’s Summer Youth Programs this summer.
The Bright Futures Fair offers students and families the chance to explore academic support resources, learn about career pathways, and connect with Michigan Tech outreach programs and community partners who are committed to helping students prepare for college and financial success after high school.
As part of Financial Literacy Month, we will be partnering with the Portage Lake District Library to host a few interactive youth events. Families are encouraged to join us for story time and activity sessions on Wednesday, April 8th at 11:30AM or Thursday, April 9th at 1:30PM. We will be reading the story How do you spend? by Cinders McLeod, which tells the story of a young bunny who has been saving her carrots and now has the chance to spend them on her wants, needs, or share them with others.
Later in the month, we will be hosting Money Matters: Fun with Finance for Kids at the library (date and time to be announced). This will be our second time hosting this hands-on event, where children will enjoy a money-themed story before rotating through activity stations to complete challenges and earn play money. At the end of the event, the play money can be spent at the Breakwater prize store on real prizes they can take home.
While many of our Financial Literacy Month events are geared toward youth and teens, we do plan on hosting a few activities for adults as well. This April, we will bring back Financial Literacy Bingo, where adults can complete different personal finance challenges throughout the month for a chance to win prizes.
We will also plan a few activities to celebrate America Saves Week April 6-10th. Stay tuned for updates on more activities to come!
Breakwater is returning to the Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa Community College on April 15th for their annual Career Fair & Job Expo. The event is open to the public and a great way to explore career opportunities in a wide range fields. Be sure to stop by our booth to learn about opportunities within the financial sector and to hear about any positions that may be open at the time. We look forward to seeing you there!
Breakwater is excited to offer three $1,500 scholarships to high school students on track to graduate and enroll in a post-secondary education program this year. Two scholarships are open to all applicants, while one will be reserved for a first-generation college student as they take the first step toward higher education for their family.
This year’s scholarships will be awarded to students who demonstrate academic commitment, strong character, financial responsibility, and concern for their community. Students interested in applying will need to submit an essay response to this year’s prompt, a reference letter from a school employee, and a reference letter from a community member who is not affiliated with the school. They will also need to download and complete the Student Information Sheet to provide basic information about themselves. Full details about Breakwater’s application requirements can be found on our website.
All eligible applications will be evaluated by an internal scholarship committee, with each committee member reviewing submissions independently using a point-based scoring system. Applications will be evaluated on essay quality, strength of recommendation letters, and membership history. All application materials must be received by Friday, March 27, 2026.
Recipients will be notified of award decisions no later than April 3rd and are encouraged to attend Breakwater’s Annual Meeting & Dinner to accept their award this April. Scholarship funds will be disbursed directly into the recipient’s member account once proof of enrollment has been provided and must be used for educational expenses such as tuition, fees, or books.
Full details and the application can be found here.
Join us April 21st for our 72nd Annual Business Meeting & Dinner. Doors open at 5PM and dinner will be served at 6PM. The dinner is served at no cost to Breakwater members and their guests.
There are three open board positions to be voted on at this year’s annual business meeting. Incumbent Steve Patchin will run for another term. Members who are interested in serving on the Board of Directors and who meet the eligibility requirements are encouraged to apply. A full position description, eligibility requirements, and the application can be found online.
Members should RSVP no later than Tuesday, April 7, 2026, so final dinner arrangements can be confirmed. RSVPs can be made online or by calling Breakwater at 906-482-5005.
Breakwater takes pride in giving back to the communities it serves. As part of our commitment to the community, our employees regularly volunteer their time with organizations and causes that make a positive impact locally. Last year, our team donated more than 225 hours of volunteer service, surpassing our goal of 168 hours. This year, we have increased our goal to 252 hours, and we are already well on our way to reaching it.
During the first few months of the new year, our employees have volunteered nearly 50 hours causes like 31 Backpacks, the Copper Country Humane Society, the Barbara Kettle Gundlach Shelter Home, Pigs-n-Heat, and more. We are eager to continue supporting our community through volunteer activities, and encourage community members to reach out when help is needed. If you have a volunteer opportunity that may be a good fit, please reach out to marketing@breakwaterfcu.org or call 906-482-5005.
