Community First partners with Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines to award $52,500 to Three Guam Non-Profits through the Member Impact Fund

Grant program supports affordable housing and community development

(March 12, 2026 – Hagåtña, Guam)- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE-

Community First Guam Federal Credit Union, in partnership with Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines (FHLB Des Moines), is pleased to announce that three local non-profit organizations: Catholic Social Service (CSS), Guma’ Mami, Inc., and Harvest House, will each receive a $17,500 grant from the Member Impact Fund.

Community First committed to donating $5,000 to each organization and FHLB Des Moines provided a match grant of $12,500 each. This matching grant program will result in FHLB Des Moines awarding over $12.9 million in funding to support affordable housing and community development in Alaska, South Dakota, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

“These organizations continue to make a meaningful difference for people in need across our community,” said Gerard Cruz, President and CEO of Community First. We’re thankful for partners like Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines, who share our commitment to community development and improving opportunities for underserved residents and organizations on the island.”

Catholic Social Service

Catholic Social Service’s mission is to encourage the development of the spiritual, intellectual, economic, and social well-being of families, persons with disabilities, abused adults and children, the elderly, homeless, and others in need of services.   

CSS will use the funds towards a new day care setting for the elderly and disability populations in Guam. This new adult day care program will focus on assisting those who are no longer able to function independently and provide basic needs and support.

“Un Dangkulo Na Si Yu’os Ma’ase to Community First for awarding Catholic Social Service (CSS) with funding through the Community Investment Grant,” said Diana Calvo, Executive Director of CSS. “Adult day care services provide such support to both the individual and the family. The day care provides an out of home placement which provide opportunities for socialization and recreation activities with supervision and assistance during the day, including memory enhancements and fine/gross motor exercises. The day care service allows families to continue employment as well as provide respite from full-time caregiving, reducing the risk of adult abuse or neglect. Financial awards such as this community impact grant supports CSS to continue our mission work.”

Guma' Mami, Inc.

Guma’ Mami, Inc. provides support and services to individuals with disabilities in Guam. The organization was formed to address the critical community needs of supportive housing and case management services for individuals with disabilities. Since then, Guma’ Mami has been advocating for development and expansion of services for individuals with disabilities.

Guma’ Mami will use the funds to launch technological upgrades for two of its residential sites. This technological initiative is designed to link residents with their families, facilitate remote healthcare via telehealth, and provide vital platforms for training and support. 

“This grant will greatly enhance our ability to provide telehealth services, offering families alternative and more convenient ways to communicate with residents and staff,” said Monica Limtiaco, Program Manager, Community Homes Program of Guma’ Mami, Inc. “With the current state of our technology, updating our computers is a critical step in improving efficiency. These upgrades will support smoother operations at our homes, streamlining day-to-day tasks, and ultimately improving the quality of care we provide.” 

Harvest House

Harvest House is a ministry serving foster children and families in Guam by meeting physical needs, offering spiritual encouragement, and providing emotional support. They recruit, train, and retain safe foster and respite families through trauma-informed parenting resources, guest speakers, and community events. Harvest House also serves as an Emergency Triage Center for children entering the foster care system, connecting them to clothing, food, and loving foster homes.

These funds would be used to help construct a donation collection center for community donations that will go to foster families and foster children, the children’s shelters, and other members of the local community.

“Our work for caring for Guam's foster children would be impossible without generous partners like Community First,” said Jared Baldwin, Executive Director of Harvest House. “These funds will be used to meet more than basic needs, but to encourage and nurture one of the most underserved populations: the 750+ children in foster care on our island.”

FHLB Des Moines provides funding solutions to more than 1,200 members to support mortgage lending, economic development and affordable housing in the communities they serve. The Member Impact Fund provides FHLB Des Moines members matching grant donations to strengthen the ability of not-for-profits or government entities to support the needs of their communities.

“The Member Impact Fund is designed to help our members champion the organizations that make a real difference in their communities,” said Kris Williams, president and CEO of FHLB Des Moines. “By partnering with our members, we’re able to multiply resources and support their vital work as they continue to strengthen opportunities for the people they serve.”

Recipient organizations were selected based on the needs for grant funding to support capacity-building or working capital necessary to strengthen their ability to serve affordable housing or community development needs including job training, affordable housing, financial literacy, food banks and youth programs.

This member matching grant program is part of FHLB Des Moines’ ongoing mission to offer a variety of funding options through its members.

Since its launch in 2023, the Member Impact Fund has provided more than $83 million in grants from FHLB Des Moines, generating over $113 million in combined support for affordable housing and community development. Notably, every eligible application submitted to the program has received funding—reflecting the organization’s strong commitment to partnership and impact.

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About Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines

The Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines is deeply committed to strengthening communities, serving 13 states and three U.S Pacific territories as a member-owned cooperative. We work together with over 1,200 member institutions to support affordable housing, economic development and community improvement.

FHLB Des Moines is one of 11 regional Banks that make up the Federal Home Loan Bank System. Members include community and commercial banks, credit unions, insurance companies, thrifts and community development financial institutions. FHLB Des Moines is wholly owned by its members and receives no taxpayer funding. For additional information about FHLB Des Moines, please visit www.fhlbdm.com.

About Community First Community First Guam Federal Credit Union is a community-chartered, full-service financial institution serving the community of Guam since 1962. The credit union has four Member Service Centers in Hagåtña, Tamuning, Dededo, and Guam’s first and only Student-Run Service Center in Mangilao. The credit union is federally insured by the National Credit Union Administration. Engage with Community First online at cfirstguam.com or on Facebook and Instagram (@cfirstguam).