Tommy White, Senior VP of Marketing at DATCU, gives a personal look at the recent partnership between DATCU and LISD, what it means, how it happened, and how our own community will reap the benefits.
THE PURPOSE
Our purpose is to help people. That’s it. We have supported LISD and other school districts for decades. This partnership allows us to consolidate that support and truly commit to LISD for another ten years and beyond. It is more than a one-time agreement; it is proof that we really want the best for everyone around us and that DATCU is a credit union with purpose.
DATCU’S LOVE FOR LISD
LISD consistently provides the best possible education in the area, it is a school district entirely devoted to the future of our community. They prepare students to be successful in whatever career path they choose and because of that, our quality of life will continue to improve for generations. LISD is a major gear in our economic engine because they develop our workforce and build pride in our area.
THE PROCESS
This partnership is great because of the open dialogue we share with LISD. We listened to them for months to really understand what they needed and tried to create an agreement that benefitted them the most. They were open and honest with their priorities, and just that process of trying to understand each other strengthened our relationship with them.
THE HEART OF DATCU
We were established by teachers nearly a century ago. Area educators make up a very strong community of people who look out for each other and care for the needs of one another. [This partnership] demonstrates our belief that education thrives in a community with strong support. LISD has great teachers, administrators, and students. That’s a community we want to support. We want them to know they have an ally and a local credit union willing to provide them with resources to do their jobs well. Educators are often unsung but they do so much to improve the lives of their students. We just want to return the favor and let them know that we recognize their leadership.
REAL-LIFE IMPLICATIONS
In a very practical way, our sponsorship keeps resources in the classroom. Our sponsorship alleviates some of the financial pressure and allows the district to keep their funding focused on students and teachers [by helping to fund] the Lewisville ISD Education Foundation, purchase backpacks and supplies for the Back to School Fair, and support internships through the annual Career Out program. Those are all important programs that need community involvement. We’re happy to lead that charge and to do so knowing that the district’s resources can stay focused on the classroom.