MADISON, Wis.—Summit Credit Union hosted its sixth annual Co-Op Connection last week on Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., just off the Capitol Square. The free event, attended by a crowd of nearly 4,000 community-minded residents, featured over 20 cooperatives from the Madison area.  

“We were really pleased with this year’s turnout,” said Summit Credit Union CEO/President Kim Sponem. “Co-op Connection allows us to highlight all the wonderful co-ops in the Madison area and share everything they do for our community.”

Summit originally established the event as an effort to celebrate the spirit of cooperatives and exhibit their impact on local communities and economies. Additionally, the occasion provides an opportunity for all participants to embrace Cooperative Principle No. 6: cooperation among cooperatives.

Hosted by Summit Credit Union and sponsored in part by Organic Valley and CUNA Mutual Group, participating cooperatives at this year’s event included REI, Union Cab, Willy Street Co-Op, the Yoga Co-Op of Madison and the University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives, among others.

Attendees enjoyed a free DJ, prize drawings, product samples from the participating co-ops, Summit’s Pay-It-Forward cupcake giveaway and a variety of family activities including a balloon artist, face painting and henna tattoos. For more information, visit https://www.summitcreditunion.com/money-smarts/events/co-op-connection-thanks.