Jacksonville, FL. — VyStar Credit Union recently celebrated its first-ever Volunteer of the Year Awards, shining a spotlight on the remarkable contributions of its employees. These 35 dedicated individuals not only excel in their roles within the credit union but also extend their passion for service into the communities VyStar calls home. In an inspiring collective effort, VyStar employees across the organization dedicated over 32,000 hours of volunteer work, supporting numerous causes and nonprofit organizations that make a difference. In addition to their volunteer hours, employees contributed more than $100,000 through VyStar’s innovative Pay it Forward program. This initiative is a part of VyStar’s broader commitment to philanthropy, which amounted to total giving of $6.6 million in 2023.

“These awards highlight the extraordinary dedication to giving back through volunteerism demonstrated by our employees and their remarkable commitment to uplifting our communities,” said VyStar President/CEO Brian Wolfburg. “Their selfless dedication and collective generosity ensure VyStar’s positive impact is both substantial and enduring.” As part of VyStar’s commitment to Do Good in the communities it serves, employees were provided a paid day off to volunteer during VyStar’s Good is everywhere volunteer outreach initiative last September.

VyStar recognized 25 top employees based on overall volunteer hours across the organization, eight employees for the most volunteer hours in their region and two employees received top honors as VyStar Volunteers of the Year. The VyStar Volunteer of the Year award recognizes employees who were selected through nominations from their colleagues, recognizing those who have passionately championed charitable causes and inspired others to support local nonprofit organizations in addition to their volunteer hours. The regional award recipients and the volunteer of the year winners were given the opportunity to designate a nonprofit of their choice to receive a monetary donation from VyStar.

VyStar Volunteer of the Year Recipients

Andrea Roberts, Operations Support Specialist (137 Volunteer Hours)  

Designated Charity for $2,500 donation: Food Pantry of Green Cove Springs

Andrea was selected as a VyStar Volunteer of the Year because she embodies the spirit of doing good in all aspects of her life, whether she is rallying colleagues to volunteer alongside her or providing support to them at work. Andrea’s commitment to helping others stems from a personal experience of having her home damaged in a hurricane and receiving help when she needed it most. Her personal story underscores the transformative power of selfless giving, motivating others to follow in her footsteps.

Stephanie Holbrook, Senior Digital Product Manager (50 Volunteer Hours)

Designated Charity for $2,500 donation: Hubbard House

Stephanie has had a profound impact on our community and on her VyStar team. Her proactive approach to scheduling and coordinating team events, making volunteering both fun and easy, has been instrumental in building a positive team culture. Her commitment extends beyond the VyStar organization, from spending weekends at local shelters to dedicating time to community events, Stephanie has also led initiatives to support Rethreaded, Feeding Northeast Florida and the Jacksonville Humane Society.

Click here to see a complete list of winners and learn more about our volunteer of the year recipients.

Empowering VyStar employees to live out our shared values is one of many reasons the credit union was recognized for the fourth time as a “Best Place to Work” in 2023, by the Jacksonville Business Journal and as a “Company with Heart” by Jacksonville Magazine.

To learn more about VyStar, please visit vystarcu.org

About VyStar Credit Union

VyStar Credit Union is the second-largest credit union headquartered in Florida, with over 80 branches and now serves more than 975,000 members with assets of over $14 billion. VyStar is the largest mortgage lender in Northeast Florida and a major employer in the region with over 2,500 employees across the communities it serves. VyStar membership is open to everyone who lives or works in the 49 contiguous counties of Central to North Florida, 29 Georgia counties, and past and present military members and their families all over the world. For more information, visit vystarcu.org, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X, and LinkedIn.