Hello, I’m Linda Armyn, Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs at Bethpage Federal Credit Union. For the last 75 years, Bethpage has met the needs of our members, employees, and the communities we serve by being a trusted financial partner committed to excellence. 

Credit unions always give back to the communities they serve and for Bethpage, it is core to our DNA. In 2017, when we opened our branch on West 26th Street, around the corner from Madison Square Park, we jumped at the chance to be involved in the neighborhood and became a Corporate Sponsor of Madison Square Park Conservancy. Every year, our staff volunteers in the Park to paint benches and tend to the Park’s gardens. Our staff love volunteering in the Park because they have the ability to spend time outdoors; and of course, having Shake Shack for lunch is an added bonus! In addition to staff volunteer days, Bethpage is a proud sponsor of many of the Conservancy events. We love being able to meet and connect with the many people and furry friends who live in the community we serve.

When the COVID-19 Pandemic began, we, like you, had to do things a bit differently, but one thing stayed true. . . our commitment to supporting the needs of our members, partners, and communities.

Since 2002, Bethpage has been an integral community partner through our Bethpage Cares Charitable Giving and Volunteer programs, successfully investing more than $2 million annually back into the community and volunteering 6,000 hours a year. This year, this program provided new funding for COVID related community needs like emergency day care for essential workers, food insecurity, COVID health care, and general financial assistance for those negatively impacted by the pandemic.

Bethpage also proudly sponsored a community fundraising effort for Northwell Health’s COVID-19 Emergency Fund, which provided essential support and resources for their healthcare heroes on the front lines. We assisted the United Way of Long Island to provide emergency gift cards to people who lost income and to distribute essential household items to senior citizens. With Ronald McDonald House having to temporarily close, we supported a fund to find alternate housing for families with children in the hospital. Bethpage is proud to be a part of these incredible efforts as we continue to enrich more and more lives during this crisis. 

While the pandemic has created challenges, being able to support our teammates, members, and communities keeps us positive. Madison Square Park is important to the Bethpage community and even though staff can’t spend their days together right now, we look forward to when we can get back into Park and catch up with MSPC, the neighborhood, and each other.