Washington State Smile Partners, a Bainbridge Island-based nonprofit that provides mobile dental services, has been named as one of this year’s winners of the People Helping People Awards.

To recognize and honor BECU members and the local nonprofits they support with either time or money, the credit union began asking members in May to nominate their favorite local nonprofits to receive a $5,000 Community Benefit Award.

All semi-finalists then had a chance to compete for an additional $5,000 People’s Choice Award that went to the nonprofit organization that received the most popular votes during an open vote period on BECU’s Facebook page.

More than 500 nominations were received for nonprofits doing great work in local communities and represented a wide array of different causes.

“We were overwhelmed with the response we received from our membership” said, Sara Moorehead, BECU Vice President of Co-op Affairs. “It solidifies for us that our members are truly living out the credit union philosophy of People Helping People.”

Along with the 15 other 2014 BECU People Helping People Awards, Washington State Smile Partners will receive a $5,000 award.

BECU is a not-for-profit credit union owned by the members, and is the largest credit union in Washington.