WESTBROOK — Twelve Maine credit unions were recognized recently as the 2016 Maine honorees of several national credit union awards programs coordinated by the Credit Union National Association.

Awards received included the Dora Maxwell Social Responsibility Community Service Award, the Louise Herring Philosophy In Action Member Service Award and the Desjardins Youth and Adult Financial Education Award.

The winners in each asset category will compete in the National Awards program in the fall. 

A Maine credit union has received a first or second place award in the national competition in 13 out of the past 17 years — a record that is unmatched in the country. 

Professionals from the Maine Public Relations Council judged the awards, which honor credit unions for community and/or member service and/or financial education efforts during the past year.

In fundraising, Maine credit unions raised and contributed nearly $1.8 million for various causes, including:

• $623,000 for the Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger;

• $75,000 for Maine Special Olympics;

• $55,000 for the Children’s Miracle Network; and

• $80,000 for the Maine Children’s Cancer Program.

In addition, Maine credit unions volunteered more than 40,000 hours for community organizations and activities across Maine.

The 2016 recipients of the Dora Maxwell Award Social Responsibility Community Service Award, established to encourage credit union involvement in community projects and activities, are (listed by asset category and the location of main office):

• Credit unions with $20-$50 million in assets — first place: Community Credit Union (Lewiston with branches in Auburn and Turner); second place: Sabattus Regional Credit Union (Sabattus); honorable mention: Great Falls Federal Credit Union (Lewiston with a branch in Auburn).

• Credit unions with $50-$250 million in assets — first place: Oxford Federal Credit Union (Mexico, with a branch location in Norway); second place: Five County Credit Union (Bath with branches in Auburn, Lewiston and Lisbon); honorable mention: Central Maine Federal Credit Union (Lewiston with a branch in Auburn).

The 2016 recipients of the Louise Herring Philosophy In Action Member Service Award, which formally recognizes credit unions that demonstrate in an extraordinary way the practical application of the credit union philosophy, are (by asset category and location of main office and applicable area branches):

• Credit unions with $50 million or less in assets — first place: Community Credit Union.

• Credit unions with $50-$250 million in assets — first place: Five County Credit Union; second place, Central Maine Federal Credit Union.

The 2016 recipients of the Desjardins Youth or Adult Financial Education Award, which recognizes youth or adult financial education programs, learning and outreach, are (by asset category and location of main office):

• Youth awards: Credit unions with $50 million in assets or less — first place: Community Credit Union.

• Youth awards: Credit unions with $50-$250 million in assets — first place: Rainbow Federal Credit Union (Lewiston with branches in Auburn, Mechanic Falls, Rumford and South Paris); second place: Central Maine Federal Credit Union; honorable mention: Five County Credit Union.

• Adult awards: Credit unions with $50 million in assets or less — first place: Community Credit Union; second place: Sabattus Regional Credit Union.

• Adult awards: Credit unions with $50-$250 million in assets — first place: Central Maine Federal Credit Union.