For more than 75 years, Members 1st has been guided by one simple credit union philosophy: people helping people. Throughout our anniversary year, we celebrated that mission by giving back to our communities, highlighting our members and creating moments that truly mattered.
One of those moments came at the very end of the year with a special car giveaway—designed to make a real, lasting difference. From more than 4,000 entries, Julie Hower was selected as the winner.
Over the past four years, Julie and her family have made nearly 20 trips to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, for her son Charlie’s treatment. Now, with a brand-new 2025 Honda HR-V Sport Edition, the Hower family has fewer worries on the road and more freedom to focus on what matters most. For 8-year-old Charlie, that freedom means mapping out his first adventure.
We spoke with Julie about what this win means for her family, where Charlie wants to go first and how Members 1st has been part of her journey from the very beginning.
Q. Why did you decide to enter the Members 1st car giveaway?
Julie: My husband had just started his layoff from work and saw the contest. We had already been talking for months about how I really needed a new car—mine was old, needed repairs and just wasn’t reliable anymore—but we couldn’t afford to replace it.
When Charlie was first diagnosed, I had to take a year off work for his treatment, follow-up appointments and caregiving. That meant losing nearly half of our household income. And to kick us when we were down, we didn’t qualify for state assistance even though we’ve both worked since the age of 14. The fundraising we received—while we’re incredibly grateful—didn’t come close to covering lost wages.
We drained our savings just trying to get by, and even after I returned to work, it was on a reduced schedule. So, when my husband saw the giveaway, he said, “Why not?” Like in my favorite movie “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” you have just as good a chance as anyone else. I was very skeptical, but I shared our story.
Q. What was your reaction when you found out you won?
Julie: In a single word—disbelief. I entered using my husband’s phone and email because I was worried a notification would get lost in my inbox—and if we ended up with spam, he could deal with it (laughs).
He found out first when Members 1st called to say we’d won and called me immediately. Ironically, we were in Memphis at St. Jude for Charlie’s appointments at the time. I just kept saying, “You’re lying.” When it finally sank in, I started crying because big things like this never happen to us.
Q. Can you explain how this car will make a difference for your family?
Julie: A new car means continued health for our family. It’s the freedom and safety to go out as we please. I had been avoiding driving my old car because I was afraid of breaking down and getting stranded, which could be dangerous with Charlie’s health conditions.
Q. How did Charlie react when he saw the new car for the first time?
Julie: Charlie couldn’t believe it either. He loves Hot Wheels and Matchbox cars, so it was like a shiny, super-sized Hot Wheel.
He’s especially excited about the leg room he will have as he grows. He’s still in a specialty car seat to protect him, and being comfortable has been an ongoing issue for him.
Q. Where does Charlie want to go first in the car?
Julie: He can’t wait to take the car to St. Jude for our next appointments in July, but we’re hoping to fit in lots of adventures before then! Our first local trip is to the car show at the Farm Show Complex. He loves going around looking at all the vehicles, campers, RVs and vintage cars.
Q. Who got to drive the car first—you or your husband?
Julie: The car is officially mine to drive (according to our household), so I drove it home. My husband wants a turn being the “passenger princess” for a while since he’s been doing most of the driving.
Q. What was going through your mind on the drive home in the new car?
Julie: The drive home felt so comfortable. It felt like a better version of my old car. It’s truly a blessing.
Q. This feels like a full-circle moment. Can you share how your membership with Members 1st began?
Julie: My first experience with Members 1st was getting an auto loan when I was 19 and buying my very first car with it.
I didn’t have a cosigner and didn’t really know what I was doing. I just picked a car that seemed reliable and asked for a payment I could afford. Members 1st approved me, and off I went.
Q. What does it mean to you to have a credit union that supports its members in ways like this?
Julie: It reminds me of the values I grew up with—that your word is your reputation, and your value isn’t defined by how much money is in your account.
It’s about partnership, mutual respect and building something that helps both the member and the credit union succeed.
Q. Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Julie: We are just so thankful for this win and can’t wait to make new memories and take new adventures with the car. We’re even trying to come up with a hashtag for our travels—though we’ve officially ruled out #howershittheroad (laughs).
As we reflect on 75 years of serving our members, stories like Julie’s remind us why we do what we do. From her very first auto loan to a life-changing car giveaway years later, Members 1st is grateful to be part of her family’s journey. Supporting our members through every stage of life is what people helping people is all about.
