Cedar Point Federal Credit Union, based in Lexington Park, Maryland, earned a Diamond Award for marketing excellence at the Marketing, PR & Development Council’s annual competition on March 26, 2025. The credit union was one of 180 winners nationwide, recognized in the Best Video Non-Commercial Series category for its “12 Days of Risk-Mas” video series, which educates viewers on fraud prevention.
The series, an original concept by Aaron Chase, Cedar Point’s Security & Cards Manager, highlights common fraud schemes and offers practical tips to avoid becoming a victim. The Marketing Department team—Shannon Even, Kristin Kauffman, Brandi Mick, and Ashton Osborne—developed it into a serialized format. They collaborated with actors from The Newtowne Players, a community theater group in Lexington Park, to bring the project to life. The award was presented during a ceremony in Austin, Texas.
This year’s Diamond Awards saw 1,400 submissions from credit unions, advertising agencies, and associations across the U.S. Of those, 180 organizations from 42 states were honored for standout campaigns. The Marketing, PR & Development Council of America’s Credit Unions oversees the competition, which has celebrated industry excellence for over 30 years.
“We are truly thrilled to celebrate Cedar Point Federal Credit Union and the other Diamond Award winners with such a prestigious recognition,” said Lesli Bishop, co-chair of the Diamond Awards and chief marketing officer at Family Savings Credit Union in Gadsden, Alabama. “These credit unions not only reflect the core values of the credit union movement, but they exemplify the forward-thinking and innovative strategies within our industry.”
Cedar Point’s winning series aligns with its mission to serve and educate its members. Founded in 1945, the credit union serves over 47,000 members in Southern Maryland, according to its website cpfcu.com. The “12 Days of Risk-Mas” project reflects a growing trend in financial institutions using creative media to address security concerns. A 2024 report from the Federal Trade Commission noted over 5.2 million fraud reports in 2023, underscoring the need for such awareness efforts.
The partnership with The Newtowne Players, a nonprofit theater group established in 1978, added a local touch to the production. The collaboration highlights Cedar Point’s commitment to community engagement, a core value of the credit union movement, which emphasizes member-focused services over profit, as outlined by the National Credit Union Administration.
The Diamond Awards, launched in the early 1990s, remain a benchmark for marketing innovation in the industry. Cedar Point’s recognition places it among top performers, showcasing how regional credit unions can compete nationally through creative, impactful campaigns.