Metro Credit Union Awards $50,000 in Grants to Empower Local Nonprofits

Published on July 21, 2025 •2 min read

CHELSEA, MA – July 21, 2025 – Metro Credit Union, the largest state-chartered credit union in Massachusetts, today announced that it has awarded $50,000 in grant funding to five local nonprofit organizations through the Metro Credit Union Foundation. Metro launched the Foundation in April 2023, and these grants represent the most recent round of awards to support nonprofit organizations, initiatives, and programs that contribute to the economic wellbeing of local communities and their residents. Since its launch, the Metro Credit Union Foundation has awarded $258,000 in grants to local nonprofit organizations.

“Through the Metro Credit Union Foundation, we’re investing in organizations that are transforming lives—whether it’s helping families buy their first home, bringing fresh food to underserved neighborhoods, or supporting small business growth,” said Robert Cashman, President and CEO of Metro Credit Union. “This is how we build stronger, more financially resilient communities—by backing the people and programs making a real difference every day.”

Front row: Charlene Bauer, SVP Member Experience, Metro Credit Union; John Woods, Executive Director, Allston Brighton Community Development Corporation; Ava Atkinson, Lottery Agency Manager, Massachusetts Affordable Homeownership Alliance; Gustey Vilme, Program Manager, Fresh Truck; William Beach, Corporate Partnerships Associate, Boston Medical Center; Symone Crawford, Executive Director, Massachusetts Affordable Homeownership Alliance; Robert Cashman, President and CEO, Metro Credit Union; Liday Rengifo, Head of Business Program, We Are ALX; Back row: Eneida Roman, President and Chief Executive Officer, We Are ALX; Mirian Alvarez, Program Administrator, We Are ALX; Yordan Villalon, Operations Project Manager, We Are ALX

The following organizations have each been awarded $10,000 in the current grant cycle:

About Fresh, Boston — Fresh Truck Mobile Market Program

Allston Brighton Community Development Corporation, Brighton — First-Time Homebuyer Education and Counseling

Boston Medical Center, Boston — Patient Financial Coaching and Empowerment Program Expansion

Massachusetts Affordable Homeownership Alliance, Dorchester — Homeownership University Program

We Are ALX, Wellesley — ALX Small Business Program

The Metro Foundation awards grants to organizations with a focus on:

Community Development — creating vibrant and equitable neighborhoods.
Securing Safe & Affordable Housing — providing opportunities for affordable housing and home ownership with down-payment assistance and homebuyer education programs.
Financial Wellness & Advancement — promoting financial competency by providing knowledge and skills.

For more information about the Foundation, application guidelines, and upcoming application deadlines visit Foundation.MetroCU.org.

Each year, Metro gives back to local communities through a number of philanthropic initiatives, partnerships, scholarships, and volunteer programs. Metro has been recognized for its charitable contributions with the Boston Business Journal Corporate Citizenship Award for the past six years.

About Metro Credit Union

Metro Credit Union is the largest state-chartered credit union in Massachusetts, with $3.4 billion in assets. Metro provides a full range of financial products to more than 200,000 members in Barnstable, Bristol, Essex, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Middlesex, Norfolk, Plymouth, Suffolk, and Worcester counties in Massachusetts, and Cheshire, Hillsborough, Merrimack, Rockingham, and Strafford counties in New Hampshire. Metro is the credit union of choice for employees at over 1,200 companies through its Metro@work program.

Founded in 1926, Metro currently operates branch offices in Boston, Burlington, Chelsea, Dorchester, Framingham, Lawrence, Lynn, Medford, Melrose, Newton, Peabody, Reading, Salem, Tewksbury, and West Roxbury. Metro is also a Juntos Avanzamos (“Together We Advance”) designated credit union, an honor given to financial institutions for their commitment to serving and empowering Hispanic and immigrant consumers. Metro was recently named among the most charitable companies in Massachusetts by the Boston Business Journal; voted Top Credit Union in Banker & Tradesman’s Best of 2024 awards; and recognized as one of America’s Best Regional Banks and Credit Unions in 2025 by Newsweek. Learn more at MetroCU.org.