SIU Credit Union is continuing its support of Saluki women as a Premier Sponsor of the 5th Annual Saluki Women’s Weekend, set for Sept. 10-12 at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.
The credit union has supported the event since its launch in 2022, helping create opportunities for women to connect through leadership, mentorship and philanthropy.
For Melissa Kinnard, community outreach specialist at SIU Credit Union and an SIU alumna, the partnership reflects the credit union’s longstanding commitment to supporting the university and Southern Illinois.
“Our philosophy is people helping people,” Kinnard said. “And with this event, we have women helping women, to support, encourage, mentor and inspire one another.”
Hosted by the SIU Foundation Women’s Leadership Council and presented by Moneta and SIU Credit Union, Saluki Women’s Weekend brings together alumni, students, faculty, staff and community members for three days of networking, professional development, philanthropy and mentorship.
“It’s been an honor and a privilege to have been a part of this since the very beginning,” Kinnard said. “We are proud to get a chance to help celebrate and acknowledge the incredible accomplishments of these amazing women, as well as help shine a spotlight on the importance of mentorship and philanthropy.”
The partnership also reflects the people behind SIU Credit Union. Kinnard said much of its staff and most of its leadership team are women, and many employees, including Kinnard, are SIU alumni.
“Once a Saluki, always a Saluki,” she said.
Supporting financial education and mentorship
As a member-owned, not-for-profit cooperative financial institution, SIU Credit Union emphasizes financial education and community engagement. Kinnard said helping people build financial literacy and work toward financial wellness is a key part of its mission.
That work is particularly important for women, she said. While women have made significant financial strides, disparities remain in areas such as retirement savings and access to funding for small businesses.
“We have a ways to go when it comes to making sure that every little girl grows up knowing financial literacy terms, but also how to manage her money and how to do personal finance,” Kinnard said.
SIU Credit Union provides financial education through online resources and outreach in schools, classrooms and community organizations. The credit union also sponsors financial literacy resources for area schools.
Kinnard sees a similar opportunity for growth through mentorship, another central focus of Saluki Women’s Weekend. She has experienced its impact through SIU students who have interned in the credit union’s marketing department.
“It has been amazing to get to teach as well as learn from them and also to see what incredible businesswomen they are becoming,” she said.
Celebrating five years
The 5th Annual Saluki Women’s Weekend begins Sept. 10 with the Women’s Leadership Council Welcome Reception at Hangar 9 in downtown Carbondale. The evening will feature line dancing instruction from Kyle Erickson, better known as Cowboy Kyle, founder of Urban Cowboy Line Dancing in Nashville, Tennessee.
The Women’s Empowerment Conference follows Sept. 11 at the Tedrick Welcome Center with educational sessions, networking opportunities and the Philanthropy and Woman of the Year Awards Luncheon. This year’s programming also recognizes the United Nations’ International Year of the Woman Farmer.
Activities conclude Sept. 12 with a Women’s Leadership Council board meeting for invited members and a mentorship brunch connecting students, alumni and professionals.
For SIU Credit Union, the fifth anniversary provides another opportunity to invest in the university and the women who make an impact across the Saluki community.
“We really love and support this incredible event,” Kinnard said. “To get a chance to sponsor it every year and to now celebrate the fifth anniversary, what an incredible accomplishment.”
Registration for the 5th Annual Saluki Women’s Weekend is free. Learn more and register at siuf.org/saluki-women.