Who helps write your story? It’s the people you meet. The places you travel. Where you live, work and play. BECU is a credit union helping write the stories of its members.
As a member-owned, not-for-profit credit union, we’re invested in giving back to you, the member. Buy the home you’ve long sought, paying no origination fee on most loans. Reach new places with our better rates when financing an RV or boat. Grow your child’s savings using higher early-saver rates that show them the power of interest.
We’re also helping write the story of your community. See us partnering with the 4News Now Extreme Team, building a new canine rescue, making the wish of a child come true, and lighting up the holidays for children at Sacred Heart Hospital. Cheer for Coug Country, knowing WSU college students learn real-world budgeting through our sponsorship of Cougar Money Matters.
Where can we take you? At BECU, a new page is waiting.
Visit one of our three locations in Spokane: North Division, Downtown and in the Valley. Learn more at becu.org/locations.
Double J Dog Ranch received a tidal wave of publicity on Super Bowl Sunday 2019, when “Bumble,” a special needs puppy, was named MVP of Animal Planet’s Puppy Bowl XV.
But Bumble is just one of hundreds of incredible stories originating out of Double J Dog Ranch, a rescue and re-home sanctuary for special needs dogs in jeopardy of euthanasia. For some, the ranch offer hospice care and a great life on the 50-acre Hauser Lake ranch. For many others, Double J is the springboard into a new, loving home.
Cristene Justus is the founder of Double J Dog Ranch. The dogs experience a home environment and receive care from a dedicated team of professionals, including health care, nutrition and behavior. One of Double J’s raving fans and health care partners is Ponti Veterinary Hospital.
Cristene Justus (second from right) and two of her Double J dogs with members of the Ponti team
“The mission of Double J Dog Ranch is so close to our hearts at Ponti,” Dr. Jerry Ponti said. “Our region is so fortunate to have an advocate like Cristene and the team at Double J Dog Ranch. As Cristene likes to say, these special needs dogs don’t realize they are special needs. So many homes in this area and across the country have had their lives enriched by taking in incredible pets that were literally saved by Double J Dog Ranch.”
Cheryl Woods of Liberty Lake Centennial Rotary on a 2017 trip to Honduras
In spring 2019, a group from the Liberty Lake Centennial Rotary Club headed to Honduras in partnership with Pure Water for the World. While there, these Rotarians installed water filtration systems, taught basic hygiene and delivered books, school supplies, new school uniforms, hygiene items and fun things for the kids. Everything was donated by the club’s local members, as well as the Post Falls Rotary Club, Columbia Bank, and many friends and community members.
This was the second trip to Honduras for club members Chris Choate and Cheryl Woods, who organized the trip and procured an international grant from Rotary which covered the cost of the water filtration systems. Across the country, more than 1 million people lack access to improved sanitation, 638,000 lack safe water and many of these are children who are missing school due to sickness from contaminated water.
This trip is just one of many projects the active club of approximately 30 members is involved in. The annual Memorial Day Breakfast at Pavillion Park resulted in the club being able to donate all proceeds to the local Inland Northwest Honor Flight to send seven local veterans to Washington D.C. to visit the memorials built in their honor. The club’s largest annual fundraiser, the RIM Ride held every September, was started by Rotary’s current President, Mandy Desgrosellier, and raises funds for local causes such as the HUB 360 program, college scholarships, Friends of Pavillion Park, Special Olympics Washington and a number of other local non-profits connected to Rotary’s mission.
State Farm agent Emily Osborne became the Liberty Lake Rotary president in June 2019 and is celebrating 20 years with State Farm this year.
“I moved to Liberty Lake to open a scratch Agency here almost 12 years ago and was so focused on starting this business that I ended up buying a condo in 20 minutes,” Osborne recalled. “That’s when I met Mary Duncan at Liberty Closing & Escrow, who invited me to a Rotary meeting. I had no idea what Rotary was but thought it would be a good distraction, a way of getting insurance off my mind for an hour a week, but it’s turned out to be so much more. Rotary is simply amazing! I wish more people knew all the good in the world they do — promoting peace, fighting disease, providing clean water, sanitation and hygiene, saving mothers and children, supporting education and helping to grow local economies. How can you not get behind that? I really do love what I do at State Farm and am so grateful for my customers and for a career that allows me to be a part of Rotary, and to give back to my community and the world. It’s a passion I am very proud to be a part of.”
