Oliver Figueroa

Oliver Figueroa has been a member of the Queen of Peace Arlington Federal Credit Union for about eight years, and Our Lady, Queen of Peace Catholic Church for about 17 years. As a member of the church in Arlington, VA, he is eligible to take advantage of the credit union located at the church. The credit union is open every Sunday. The church and the credit union have played a major role in Oliver's life.

Oliver's life changed dramatically two years ago on a trip to the beach with some friends. Oliver broke his fifth cervical vertebrae in his neck after miscalculating the depth of the water. After months of rehabilitation, he finally returned home to his friends, family, and his church.

The transition to his new life as a disabled man has not always been smooth. After numerous health problems over the past two years, Oliver realized he needed more help than provided with living on his own. He moved into a full-service care facility in nearby Annandale, VA. While he has learned to make the best of the situation (taking of the advantage to receive more rehabilitative services), it is clear that Oliver longs to live more like other 24 year olds. He is on the waiting list for subsidized housing, which is necessary for a person surviving on public benefits. The subsidized housing is the essential component to living more independently for Oliver. Because Virginia provides consumer-directed personal attendant services for those living in the community, it is only a matter of time before Oliver will be able to live on his own.

Both the church and the credit union are making every effort to help facilitate Oliver's independence. Because of the accessibility of the credit union, he can come in and conduct transactions directly. Oliver has his various disability checks sent electronically to the credit union and, when he needs to have checks payable to others from his account, the credit union can issue checks on his behalf. Most importantly, it is the personal service and dedication to serving Oliver in the best way possible that is what makes the credit union unique when compared to mainstream financial institutions. To Queen of Peace Arlington FCU, Oliver is more than an account number. He is an individual with unique needs and they are more than willing to do whatever they can to help because they care.