TUCSON, ARIZ. / AGILITYPR.NEWS / October 29, 2026 / Proudly Tucson campaign earns inaugural storytelling honor; Tucson Welcome Home homeownership partnership recognized for Cooperation in Action

Tucson Federal Credit Union (TFCU) has been named a winner in two categories at the 2026 GoWest Awards, presented October 9 at the GoWest Awards Dinner and Gala during the MAXX convention in Denver. TFCU received the first-ever Storytelling With Purpose Award for its Proudly Tucson campaign and shares the Cooperation in Action Award with four fellow Tucson-area credit unions for Tucson Welcome Home, a joint homeownership program.

The GoWest Awards recognize credit unions and leaders across Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Oregon, Washington and Wyoming. This year's awards drew a record number of nominations and were presented in nine categories.

"Being named the first-ever recipient of GoWest’s Storytelling With Purpose Award is an incredible honor because Proudly Tucson is rooted in the authentic stories of our members, our neighbors, and the community we’re proud to serve. To also be recognized for Tucson Welcome Home through the Cooperation in Action Award makes this especially meaningful. That second win reflects what’s possible when credit unions choose to collaborate, bringing our collective strengths together to help more Tucson families achieve homeownership and strengthen the community we all share." said Matthew Gaspari, President and CEO of Tucson Federal Credit Union.

Storytelling With Purpose: Proudly Tucson

Proudly Tucson was built around a simple idea: people should not have to choose between sophisticated financial services and a financial partner that is deeply rooted in their own community. Rather than leading with products and rates, the campaign told the story of TFCU's nearly 90 years in Southern Arizona, from its founding in 1937 by local educators as Tucson Teachers Federal Credit Union to its role today as a neighbor, advocate and community partner.

The campaign reached members, prospective members, business and civic leaders and the broader community through television, digital and social media, community sponsorships, business media and thought leadership, sharing real stories of member support, community investment and local partnerships.

Cooperation in Action: Tucson Welcome Home

Tucson Welcome Home brings together five Tucson-area credit unions to address housing affordability, one of Southern Arizona's most pressing challenges. TFCU, Pima Federal Credit Union and Vantage West Credit Union serve as mortgage lenders, while Hughes Federal Credit Union and Pyramid Federal Credit Union provide referrals and community outreach. A GoWest Foundation grant supports the program's loan-loss reserves.

The program offers:

• 100% financing with no private mortgage insurance
• No origination or application fees
• Free pre-approval and rate locks
• Competitive fixed rates

According to GoWest, Tucson Welcome Home has received 432 applications since launch, funded 93 loans totaling more than $26 million and issued 70 pre-approvals, with 79 additional loans pending.

Both winning initiatives will be featured in the weeks ahead through GoWest's On The Go news channel. TFCU's winner video is available on YouTube at https://youtu.be/FtMxKhefBME