Celebrating Service: 2025 Community Advocate Award Winners and Community Honorees celebrated at luncheon Friday

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Ent Credit Union, becoming Wings Credit Union, today celebrated three 2025 Ent Community Advocate Award winners, along with two additional Coloradans being recognized for exceptional contributions, at a special luncheon at the credit union’s headquarters in Colorado Springs on Friday, Feb. 6.

Out of more than 200 nominations, three deserving individuals were selected as the 2025 Community Advocate Award winners, continuing the legacy of service this program was created to honor. Receiving a total of $50,000, the award winners are:

Val Macri-Lind (Fort Collins): Co-founder and Clinical Director of ChildSafe Colorado, Macri-Lind has spent nearly four decades providing trauma-informed therapy to children, adults and families regardless of their ability to pay. Her work has impacted thousands across Northern Colorado, helping survivors heal and breaking cycles of trauma.

Lauren Herman (Aurora): Founder of Levi’s Legacy, Herman turned personal loss into purpose after losing her son, Levi, to congenital heart disease. Through care packages, scholarships, and family support programs, her organization has raised more than $500,000 to support heart families and research at Children’s Hospital Colorado.

Ty’Anna Jones-Boyd (Colorado Springs): A breast cancer survivor and ovarian cancer previvor, Jones-Boyd founded Girl’s Breast Friend and helped establish Beyond October to support women navigating life after cancer. Her work in Southeast Colorado Springs focuses on culturally grounded healing, removing barriers to care and supporting women, especially women of color, through survivorship and long-term wellness.

Ent’s Community Advocate Award was created to honor Coloradans who step forward to strengthen, protect, and uplift others. The award launched in 2022 in the wake of the Club Q tragedy and was first awarded to the two community members whose heroic actions saved lives. Since its inception, 13 Coloradans have been recognized.

In addition to this year’s award winners, two more Coloradans were recognized for their contributions and acts of courage. They are:

Anirudh Rao (Highlands Ranch): An innovator and educator, Rao, age 13, has reached more than 6,000 learners through interactive programs connecting science, culture and climate awareness. He has also developed solutions focused on disaster response, road safety, and sustainability while promoting kindness through global youth initiatives. In recognition of his inspirational work and to support his innovative spirit, a savings account was opened for Rao with $1,000 from the credit union.

Amanda Sanchez (Colorado Springs): Sanchez, an Ent employee, was recognized through Ent’s employee recognition program for extraordinary courage after risking her life to save her neighbor from a burning home. Her selfless actions on Oct. 30 saved his life and reflect remarkable bravery in a moment of crisis. She received $10,000.

Leah Fiorino (Ent), Cat Outten (Ent), Valerie Macri‑Lind, Lauren Herman, Amanda Sanchez, Ty’Anna Jones‑Boyd, Anirudh Rao, Annie Snead (Ent), and Mollie Bell (Ent) at the 2025 Community Advocate Award luncheon in Colorado Springs on Feb. 6, 2026.

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About Ent Credit Union, becoming Wings Credit Union
Wings Credit Union and Ent Credit Union united in a merger of equals Jan. 1, 2026, creating a stronger, member-focused financial cooperative serving nearly 1 million members with approximately $20 billion in assets. The combined credit union is transitioning to the Wings Credit Union name, with Ent-branded service centers continuing to serve members in Colorado during a phased brand transition. 

Founded in 1938, Wings is headquartered in Apple Valley, Minnesota, and Ent, established in 1957, is headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Together, they bring complementary strengths, shared values, and a longstanding commitment to exceptional member service. Wings will operate with dual headquarters, reflecting its continued presence in both regions. As a not-for-profit financial cooperative, Wings offers more than 90 service centers, robust digital banking capabilities, and a full suite of financial solutions. The credit union also invests deeply in the local communities it serves through philanthropy, education, and programs that promote long-term financial well-being. Both Wings and Ent were recognized by Newsweek as two of the best credit unions of 2026, underscoring their shared commitment to financial strength and an outstanding member experience. 

Wings is an Equal Housing Lender and Equal Opportunity Lender, federally insured by NCUA. Learn more at WingsCU.com and Ent.com.