LAKE MARY, Fla (February 7, 2025) – Addition Financial Credit Union, headquartered in Lake Mary, Florida, is lending their financial expertise as well as part of their operations building to support students in ProjectRISE, an adult workforce development program run by The Sharing Center. Today 12 students from the program’s 21st cohort graduated during a ceremony in the Joseph A. Melbourne Community Room at Addition Financial’s Operations Center.
During the comprehensive five-week workforce development program, participants receive intensive classroom instruction through The Sharing Center focused on topics including workplace readiness, critical soft skills, emotional intelligence, as well as financial education from Addition Financial team members. Beginning in 2025, Addition Financial is hosting the ProjectRISE graduation ceremonies in their community room in Lake Mary, to provide additional space for the graduates and the growing number of community partners.
“Addition Financial is proud to support ProjectRISE alongside our tremendous partners at the Sharing Center and to help the people in this program along their journey to financial health,” said Richard Barbari, Director of Community Engagement and Partnerships at Addition Financial. “Providing financial education to those putting the work in to better their situations is a core function of how we serve our community, and this program is a perfect example of that at work.”
ProjectRISE participants are also matched with a success coach who provides ongoing support and guidance to effectively navigate the professional landscape. Since ProjectRISE’s inception in 2022, 175 participants have completed and graduated the program.
About The Sharing Center:
In 1986, 17 churches joined together to serve those experiencing hunger and homelessness. Today, The Sharing Center has grown to become the most comprehensive social services organization in Seminole County. Our mission is to provide essential resources to those in need while ensuring dignity, reflecting Christian generosity, and sharing God’s love. Last year, we served more than 13,000 individuals facing a range of difficult circumstances, including hunger and homelessness. For more details on how we’re inspiring hope in our community, visit www.thesharingcenter.org.
About Addition Financial Credit Union:
Addition Financial Credit Union is a trusted banking and financial education partner that members of the Central Florida community rely on to help them along their financial journey. Founded in 1937, Addition Financial is a not-for-profit financial cooperative headquartered in Lake Mary, Florida approaching more than $3 billion in total assets. As a member-owned credit union, Addition Financial puts the financial well-being of its more than 179,000 members at the heart of everything it does. With 26 full-service branches, 11 student-run high school branches, and financial products designed to provide better saving and loan rates and lower fees, Addition Financial is constantly growing and evolving to meet the needs of its members. Addition Financial is the Official Financial Institution of the UCF Knights and owns the naming rights of the Addition Financial Arena on the University of Central Florida campus. Addition Financial was named one of the “Best-In-State Credit Unions for 2024” by Forbes and as one of the “Best Credit Unions for 2025” by Newsweek. For more information, visit AdditionFi.com.