[The following is a paid advertisement.]

Great Lakes Credit Union (GLCU) takes pride in its many philanthropic initiatives to help build up the communities in which its members live. This year GLCU’s Board of Directors has adopted an extra special plan to give back even more. GLCU is proud to announce it is donating $39,000 in support of 13 organizations located within the communities of their branches throughout Lake, McHenry, Cook, DuPage, and Will counties in Illinois.

On January 29, 2016 GLCU presented a $3,000 check to the Open Arms Mission. The Open Arms Mission is a local food pantry whose mission is to provide daily living necessities while encouraging self-sufficiency for individuals and families in need.

Other organizations benefiting from this initiative include: Operation Support Our Troops in Naperville, Gurnee Explorers Unit, Coalition of Healthy Communities in Zion, ASCEND in Waukegan, Fat Cat Rescue, Inc. in North Chicago, Ronald McDonald House in Oak Lawn, McHenry County Community Foundation in Crystal Lake, Helping Paws Animal Shelter in Woodstock, United Way of Will County in Bolingbrook, Good Shepherd Center in Hazel Crest, Village of Willow Springs Veterans and Family Relief Fund, and B.E.S.T in Round Lake Beach.