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Meet our 2023 Student Loan Payoff Contest winners

Student loan debt is an issue that affects more than 40 million Americans. We decided to do our part and help our members who have already graduated by giving three deserving people $10,000 each—a total of $30,000—to help pay off their student loan debt. Meet our first two winners!

Round 1 Winner

Travis Reid, from Loganville, has been a member of Georgia’s Own since he was a teenager and currently works as a nurse. He’s also newly married, and his wife is a veterinary student at the University of Georgia.

After his father passed away last year, he bore the responsibility of taking over a mortgage with his mother, leaving him financially responsible for two households—on top of tackling his student loan debt.

Get to know Travis below:

Round 2 Winner

As a first-generation college student growing up in a single-parent household, Simon Chang has had to work throughout college and graduate school to fund his own education—racking up nearly $100,000 in student loan debt. When his mother, a cancer survivor, couldn’t work during COVID, Simon picked up an extra role to help with the bills while continuing to work towards his doctorate of physical therapy at Augusta University.

Simon’s dream is to partner with the Georgia Department of Health to open a mobile clinic and serve people who live in rural areas across the state.

Check out Simon’s story below:

Stay tuned for our final winner who will be announced in December!

Georgia’s Own Credit Union named a 2023 Top Workplace

For the second consecutive year, Georgia’s Own Credit Union is proud to be named to the Top Workplaces USA list. The Credit Union was also named a Top Workplace for the financial services industry for 2022.

Organizations must receive at least a 35% response rate on their employee engagement surveys to be considered for the Top Workplaces USA award from Energage. Questions range from employees’ experiences with work-life balance and their overall well-being to communication, innovation, and values within the organization.

In addition, Georgia’s Own was named to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and CoxNext’s 2023 Atlanta Top Workplaces list.

A record 7,998 companies were nominated or asked to participate in the Atlanta 2023 Top Workplace rankings, and more than 98,000 workers in the Atlanta region were represented.

As a full-service, not-for-profit financial institution, serving our members, giving back to our communities, and cultivating our employees is at the heart of what we do. That includes providing a flexible, innovative, engaging, and progressive work environment—just to name a few.

We had an impressive participation rate of 79.5% in the employee engagement survey. Below is what some of our incredible employees have to say about working for Georgia’s Own:

“In my work, I can be very flexible with my schedule, and I feel like I can contribute to the overall success of the company.”

“I feel like I am an important part of Georgia’s Own, and what I do matters.”

“Georgia’s Own is true to its values.”

 “I can contribute to the greater cause of providing our community with financial assistance to meet the dreams and needs of their families.”

“It’s fulfilling [to work for Georgia’s Own], and I am learning so much about Georgia’s Own Credit Union and its culture and diversity. My manager is very responsive and supportive in helping me to be successful at my job.”

We’re honored to be included among some of the most highly regarded organizations in the nation. This award would not have been possible without our extraordinary employees who work hand-in-hand to ensure our mission of Banking on Purpose remains the foundation of our work.

Credit Unions for Ukraine Humanitarian Fundraiser

Credit unions were founded on the principle of helping members and communities—both near and far.

Amid the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, Georgia’s Own has partnered with Associated Credit Union and Peach State Federal Credit Union in a collaborative effort to support those in need through the Ukrainian Credit Union Displacement Fund.

Your generous donation will benefit displaced credit union members in Ukraine and will make an immediate and meaningful impact—any amount is greatly appreciated.

Donate today >>

Georgia’s Own Credit Union named to 2022 Top Workplaces USA list

Georgia’s Own Credit Union is proud to be named to the 2022 Top Workplaces USA list.

Organizations must receive at least a 35% response rate on their employee engagement surveys to be considered for the Top Workplaces award from Energage. Questions range from employees’ experiences with work-life balance and their overall well-being to communication, innovation, and values within the organization.

As a full-service, not-for-profit financial institution, serving our members, giving back to our communities, and cultivating our employees is at the heart of what we do. That includes providing a flexible, innovative, engaging, and progressive work environment—just to name a few.

We had an impressive participation rate of 75% in the employee engagement survey. Below is what some of our incredible employees have to say about working for Georgia’s Own:

“In my work, I can be very flexible with my schedule, and I feel like I can contribute to the overall success of the company.”

“Georgia’s Own is truly a fabulous place to work. I love my job because regardless of what area, everyone is focused on ensuring that our members have what they need to succeed. And that’s a good mission!”

 “I can contribute to the greater cause of providing our community with financial assistance to meet the dreams and needs of their families.”

“I love the people that I work with and the vision behind who Georgia’s Own is and continues to be. I love being a part of an organization that cares for the community, starting with their very own employees and members.”

We’re honored to be included among some of the most highly regarded organizations in the nation. This award would not have been possible without our extraordinary employees who work hand-in-hand to ensure our mission of Banking on Purpose remains the foundation of our work.

8 fun summer activities in Atlanta

Atlanta summers can be brutal—the heat and humidity are unbearable, and sometimes you just want to stay indoors. But summers here aren’t totally bad. The start of summer also brings longer days, late-night outings, and tons of outdoor activities. Plus, many events and festivals are returning after a hiatus due to the pandemic, so this summer is certainly more promising than last. It’s time to beat the heat and make the most of everything Atlanta has to offer—below are eight fun summer activities in Atlanta:

Shoot the Hooch

Shooting the Hooch is a quintessential summer activity for Atlantans—it’s a great way to keep cool during the hot, southern summers, plus it’s cheap. You can rent tubes for $20-25, or you can use your own. There are four entry and exit points to choose from, the most popular being from Don White Memorial Park to Memorial Park. The route is only 1.5 miles, takes 2-4 hours to float, and is perfect for beginners. Be sure to bring a life jacket (they’re required by law), a change of dry clothes, and most importantly, sunscreen.

Cool down at Six Flags White Water

Another popular summer activity is Six Flags White Water. Located in Marietta, this water park is filled with thrilling water slides, a massive wave pool, and various kid-friendly attractions. One-day tickets start as low as $24.99, so you won’t have to worry about breaking the bank. You must pay for tickets and parking online before visiting the park. Six Flags White Water operates daily through August 1st and weekends through September 26th.

Alive in Roswell

Formerly known as Alive After Five, Alive in Roswell starts July 15th after a year-long hiatus due to COVID. This popular festival is held on the third Thursday of every month from 5pm-9pm. Hundreds of people pack into Canton Street, the Roswell Square, and Roswell City Hall to partake in live music, food trucks, and vendors. There are various parking lots with free shuttles, first-come-first-serve street parking, and paid parking lots near Canton Street.

Castleberry Hill Art Stroll

Castleberry Hill, a historic, vibrant community, hosts an art stroll every second Friday of the month from 6pm-10pm. It also returns after a year-long hiatus due to the pandemic and begins June 11th. You can partake in a free, self-guided tour of art galleries and murals, plus have a bite at one of the many local eateries. Or, you can sign up for a guided walking tour for $20 per person. Castleberry Hill’s art stroll is a popular activity among locals and for good reason—it was named the Best Art Stroll in Atlanta and the community was listed as one of the Top 10 Art Districts in the Country by USA Today. Information sheets and maps for the art stroll are posted the week of the event and are available at 180 Walker Street SW in front of Bottle Rocket the night of the stroll.

Painted Pin

If you’re looking for an indoor activity, Painted Pin is the way to go. Located on Miami Circle in Buckhead, Painted Pin is an upscale, boutique bowling alley in a warehouse space that offers bites, bowling, and more, from bocce and ping-pong to Skee-Ball and shuffleboard. Bowling starts at $30/hour per lane on Monday-Thursday and $40/hour per lane on Friday-Sunday. Each lane holds a maximum of six players. The Painted Pin is 21+ Monday-Friday and after 5pm on Saturday-Sunday and is on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Visit a farmers market

Summertime also means the opening of neighborhood farmers markets, and Atlanta has plenty to choose from, like the Green Market at Piedmont Park and the Alpharetta Farmers Market. The Green Market is open from 9am-1pm on Saturdays through November at the park’s entrance on 12th Street and Piedmont Avenue. There are dozens of vendors that offer fresh produce, baked goods, jams and preserves, and artisan goods. The Alpharetta Farmers Market is open from 8:30am-12pm on Saturdays through November at Alpharetta City Center. The farmers market offers nearly 100 vendors, live music, and more.

Take a hike

Atlanta and the surrounding area offers plenty of hiking for all levels with watering holes to cool off afterward. The Vickery Creek Trail at Roswell Mill is a moderate, 4.7-mile trail. It’s scenic and shady, plus meanders through the woods to a covered bridge and the historic Roswell Mill, which was powered by the spillway dam during the Civil War. Vickery Creek’s north bank, next to the waterfall, is the perfect place to stop and take a swim after your hike. Watson Mill Bridge State Park, located just outside of Athens, is home to the largest covered bridge in the state and boasts several miles of hiking trails. You can hike, have an afternoon picnic, take a swim, rent kayaks, and more.

Go blueberry picking

Summer is blueberry season, and there are dozens of places throughout Atlanta and North Georgia that offer pick-your-own blueberries. Mercier Orchards in Blue Ridge hosts U-Pick blueberries in June for $12 per person, and DJ’s U-Pick Blueberry Farm offers blueberry picking in June and July. Be sure to call for availability to make sure they aren’t picked over. Once you’ve collected your fresh blueberries, you can make a pie, ice cream, jam, or eat them as-is.

Following dreams with Elaine Burge

I recently had the pleasure of getting to know Georgia native and professional artist, Elaine Burge. She’s as bright and full of energy as her gorgeous paintings. Her artwork can be found at ElaineBurge.com or follow her on Instagram @elaineburgeart to see more of her creations.

Home

Riddleville, Georgia

A Little Bit about Elaine

Born and raised in Georgia, she loves country living. She describes herself as having a ton of energy, which is one reason the slow pace of country life is so perfect for her and her family. “I love the animals that surround us and the wide open spaces” that change so drastically from season to season.

The Art Start

Elaine has always been creative and inspired by her surroundings. She started painting as a way of income in high school – first as a muralist, then as a muralist painting scenes behind miniature train layouts. She launched Elaine Burge Art in 2011.

Turning a Dream into a Career

Elaine says, “I always dreamed of it (painting professionally), but didn’t know it was possible until my husband told me he believed I could; and so I did! It was his faith in my ability to succeed that gave me the courage to pursue my passion.”

Biggest Hurdle

Weighing being a people-pleaser and giving myself what I need creatively can be a challenge.

Favorite Aspect

Being my own boss – I don’t like to be told what to do.

Favorite Piece of Artwork

I don’t have a favorite… It’s always the one that has the freshest paint on it, I think.

Live Paintings

A bride named Gia reached out to me and asked if painting her wedding would be something I would consider doing. I said why not? I painted her gorgeous ceremony on the lawn in front of the Swan House. It was such a moving experience that I knew I had to have more!

Where do you find inspiration?

Honestly, there isn’t much that I can’t find inspiration from. My spontaneous creations are kind of therapy for me, where I can let my hands work and my mind relax. It just happens! I love textiles, nature’s color palettes and the way that painting is an outlet for my energy. I feel that I pull inspiration from things I see on a daily basis… like the way the sun hits the grass at a certain time of day… the way a quilter lines up locks of color and sews them with such care… the juxtaposition of a structured fence against a chaotic scene full of splashes of color.

I think the way that you live your day is the way that you live your life… I cannot remember where that quote is from but just to be sure to make today count because your life is made up of a bunch of todays!

If you could only paint with once color forever, what would it be?

It would be Golden Acrylic’s teal.

What advice would you give an aspiring entrepreneur?

Go for it! It’s harder not to do it if that is what you want. You are the only one holding you back.

What is your favorite thing about Georgia?

There is so much to love, but I think the pace of life, specifically in this area (Riddleville), is my favorite.