3 Huntsville people making our community better + how to get involved

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A great place like Huntsville only gets better when people show up for each other when they need it most. While the smallest gestures can make a tremendous impact, we don’t always hear about them.

The Redstone Federal Credit Union Community Champions initiative celebrates some of these great stories every year, and we’re excited to share them with you.

Read on to learn more about this year’s honorees and how you can help support each of their causes.

What is the Redstone Community Champions initiative?

Every year, Redstone issues a call for nominations of people who embody the credit union’s philosophy of “People Helping People” in their communities. The credit union team then chooses honorees from those nominations, recognizing individuals for their volunteerism and causes.

Community Champions receive a donation toward their cause, a custom award, a one-on-one financial wellness session with a Redstone advisor, a feature in Redstone’s Aspire! newsletter and professional video productions about their work and chosen causes.

Want to see the thoughtfully produced videos? Visit the video gallery on the Redstone website. Tip: Have tissues ready.

1. Carlos Flores of Harleys for Hope

Carlos Flores met fellow biker Michael Friar at a Redstone Harley-Davidson event several years ago. Friar was raising money toward buying teddy bears for children facing difficult circumstances of all kinds, from poverty to abuse to illness. It was personal for Friar, as his 8-year-old niece was battling leukemia at the time.

Friar soon developed the Harleys for Hope name for his effort and enlisted Flores to bring his holiday season persona of Santa Claus on wheels to serve the group. Now every December, Flores … uh, Santa, delivers hundreds of bears to local hospitals, nonprofits and first responders so they’ll go to kids in crisis. Last year, the group raised over $9,000 to buy bears!

“If we can bring joy to a child’s life, for us, there’s no greater motivation than to see a smile on a kid’s face.”
_{Carlos Flores, Harleys for Hope}

Want to help Harleys for Hope keep comforting Huntsville kids? Visit the Harleys for Hope website to donate or get in touch to volunteer.

2. Rosemary Jordan of Empowerment Through Change

When Rosemary Jordan lost her son to violence in 2007, she soon channeled her grief into creating Empowerment Through Change. While the organization primarily helps students in high school and college, Jordan calls herself a “need filler,” helping where she sees a need.

She’s provided scholarships for student band fees and thousands of bottles of water at Lee High School, sets students up for success entering college and held a drive in 2025 that brought in over 100 pairs of sneakers for unhoused men. Every effort honors her late son and transforms the loss into encouragement for others.

“I thought of his smile. I thought of what brought him joy. I thought of how he loved to give. And that’s when I knew I was somehow supposed to help students. Your pain really can become your peace. You really can find joy through the pain.”
_{Rosemary Jordan, Empowerment Through Change}

Interested in becoming a need filler alongside Jordan? You can contact her directly at Empowerment Through Change on Facebook.

3. Stacey Givens of Make A Way Foundation

As Stacey Givens and her son, Brooks, navigated school days alongside therapy programs following his autism diagnosis at age 3 1/2, she saw how dramatically sensory therapy worked for him. She requested a small space at his school to create a sensory room, and the school agreed. The room did wonders for Brooks, and soon, other kids and parents experienced similar results.

That one room grew into Givens’ Make A Way Foundation, which has now built 31 sensory rooms in 21 Athens and Limestone County schools, enjoyed by over 1,000 children each month. The organization also hosts events for children with autism and their families.

“The impact on families is incredible. And it is bringing awareness to this community about these very special people, the things they can do and just how wonderful they are.”
_{Stacey Givens, Make A Way Foundation}

Want to join Givens’ mission? Visit the Make A Way Foundation website to learn how you can help.

Interested in joining a credit union that puts its members and the community first? Visit Redstone Federal Credit Union to become a member today.

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