ABOUT US
Freedom First Enterprises is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization formed in 2017 by Freedom First Credit Union to be an independent charitable entity. Our purpose is to support community development efforts by assisting low- and very low-income consumers with safe alternative financial services when they lack the means to access traditional services due to poor credit, job instability, or other life factors. Freedom First Enterprises operates as a loan fund, a financial provider, a capital provider, a fundraiser, and an economic development driver in the Appalachia region.
Freedom First Enterprises complements Freedom First Credit Union to further its mission of Helping People Prosper — Helping Communities Thrive in expanded ways. For example, it currently operates as the fiscal agent for the cross-industry collaborative project called Local Impact For Tomorrow (LIFT). Another substantial undertaking Freedom First Enterprises tackled was to act as the financial counseling provider for the City of Roanoke’s Financial Empowerment Center. This initiative, launched by the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund in 2020, allows the City of Roanoke to offer no-cost financial counseling services to its residents.
Board of Directors
Paul Phillips
President, Board Chairman
Wayne Strickland
Board Treasurer
Dave Prosser
VP, Executive Director
Annette Patterson
Board Member
Kimberly Butterfield
Board Secretary