In 1948, Aviator Tom Davis launched a small airline, Piedmont Airlines, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, to provide jobs for servicemen and women after the war. Under his leadership, the airline flourished and the need for a credit union was recognized. By 1949, with airline volunteers and a cash box in a small office, Mr. Davis supported the launch of an aviation credit union to provide small loans and savings accounts to Piedmont Airlines’ employees.
Over the years, this credit union became known as Piedmont Advantage Credit Union to reflect its growing membership. As a financial cooperative, the credit union has a long history of helping its members achieve financial wellness through financial literacy.
The PACU Foundation was founded in January 2020, grown out of the desire of Piedmont Advantage Credit Union's Board of Directors and leadership team to enlarge the credit union's capacity to make a difference within its North Carolina service areas. The Foundation’s mission is to create strong, sustainable financial health in our local communities by using the power of cooperative efforts to enable dreams to take flight and soar.
The Foundation’s areas of focus are financial literacy, education and training, and disaster and emergency assistance.
Steve Gilliland
Chairman
Jean Golden-Rumer
President
Fundraising Committee Chairperson
Email: jgolden-rumer@pacufoundation.org
Jeanette Stark
Vice President
Email: jeanette.stark@pacufoundation.org
Peter Minford
Treasurer
Email: pminford@pacufoundation.org
Tracy Gilmore
Secretary
Email: tgilmore@pacufoundation.org
Diana Santos Johnson
Director
Justine Lerch
Director
Gene Sharp
Director
Mary Vitale
Director
Gifting Committee Chairperson
Email: mvitale@pacufoundation.org
Michael Westbrook
Director
Email: mwestbrook@pacufoundation.org
Kim Adkins
Public Relations and Community Outreach Director
Email: kadkins@pacufoundation.org
The PACU Foundation is a Section 501(c)(3) charitable organization, EIN 84-4139152. All donations are deemed tax-deductible absent any limitation on deductibility applicable to a particular taxpayer. If goods or services were provided in return for a contribution, the amount of the contribution, which is tax-deductible, may be limited to the amount exceeding the value of such goods and services. The PACU Foundation maintains discretion over the use of all donated funds.
The PACU Foundation 2021 Online Auction has ended, but our 2021 online donation webpage remains open with Greater Giving, our online auction and event portal.
As you, we want to see the local communities where we live, work, worship and raise our children thrive.
When you support the PACU Foundation, you're part of making our communities financially stronger and healthier. Thank you for your support.
Headquartered in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and founded in 1949 within the airline industry, Piedmont Advantage Credit Union (PACU) now serves member-owners, who reside, work, worship or attend school in one of the 13 counties it serves in North Carolina or who are employed by one of its many employer companies. These 13 counties are Bladen, Brunswick, Columbus, Cumberland, Davie, Duplin, Forsyth, Guilford, Iredell, Mecklenburg, New Hanover, Pender and Rockingham. A nonprofit cooperative financial institution, PACU has 10 branches throughout its service regions and employs a workforce of over 120.