Scott CU Community Foundation Donates $50,000 to Local Schools

EDWARDSVILLE, IL – Local schools recently received a helping hand through a grant program from the Scott Credit Union Community Foundation. Totaling $50,000, the “With You” education grants were awarded to 19 schools located within Scott Credit Union’s field of membership in support of efforts to grow STEM programs, provide clothing and personal hygiene products to students in need, improve school security systems, and more.

“Schools are doing the best that they can to provide educational and emotional support to all students. Sometimes there just isn’t enough funding to accomplish all the things that educators want to do. We want them to know that we are ‘With You,’” said Frank Padak, Scott Credit Union President and CEO.  “We established the With You education grant program in 2020 to support initiatives that positively impact the young people in the communities where we live and work.”

A volunteer committee reviewed the 81 applications received, and all submissions remained anonymous until after the winners were selected. Winners were chosen based on need, the percentage of student enrollment impacted by the project, and the direct benefit the project will offer to students. The 19 winning schools are:

• Alton Middle School (Alton, IL) – equipment to support the STEM after-school program, allowing students to gain experience in technology and journalism

• Blessed Sacrament School (Belleville, IL) – a playground Buddy Bench to support emotional health, allowing a space that students can utilize when they need a friend or someone to talk to

• Christ Community Lutheran School (Kirkwood, MO) – a student library and reading and writing help center

• Frohardt Elementary School (Granite City, IL) – sensory tools to assist the special education students coping with Sensory Processing Disorder

• Gibault Catholic High School (Waterloo, IL) – am emergency medical training mannequin to be utilized for Emergency Medical Responder students and for CPR training for all students and staff

• Henning Elementary School (Troy, IL) – iPads with Augmentative and Alternative Communication applications that will assist non-verbal students with Complex Communication Needs to communicate with teachers and fellow students

• Highland Elementary School (St. Louis, MO) – a care closet with personal hygiene supplies for students in need, along with healthy snacks for diabetic students

• Holman Middle School (St. Ann, MO) – a care closet with food and personal hygiene supplies for students in need

• JL Mudd Elementary School (O’Fallon, MO) – iPads for use with English Language Learner students, coding program students, and students with Individualized Education Plans

• Liberty Middle School (Edwardsville, IL) – an SRA Reading Laboratory Kit for all students and various learning enhancement supplies for the special education students

• Mascoutah Elementary School (Mascoutah, IL) – Kindness Rock Garden to support Positive Behavioral Intervention & Support program and supplies to teach special education students a variety of functional life skills

• Northwest School (Evergreen Park, IL) – the purchase of a situational-based Social Emotional Learning Program and enhancements to the school’s “Little Lending Library”

• Notre Dame Academy (Belleville, IL) – water bottle refill stations to replace water fountains that can no longer be used

• Rock Creek Elementary School (O’Fallon, MO) – Sphero indi coding robots to enhance the school’s STEM program

• Rogers Middle School (St. Louis, MO) – Sensory Break Room to assist students with emotion regulation, coping skills, and self-control

• Rohan Woods School (St. Louis, MO) – materials to support various sustainability efforts throughout the school, including TerraCycle collection bins

• St. Teresa Catholic School (Belleville, IL) – improved security system and security cameras

• Twillman Elementary School (St. Louis, MO) – a dignity closet offering students basic clothing and personal hygiene items

• Whiteside Middle School (Belleville, IL) – the purchase of the Generation Genius science program and funding for 8th grade students to visit the Holocaust Museum

The Scott Credit Union Community Foundation was founded in 2018 to expand the reach of SCU’s community involvement. Funds are primarily raised via an annual golf scramble and a donation program connected with certain SCU checking accounts—a program which is conducted at no cost to the credit union’s members.

A primary focus of the SCU Community Foundation is the implementation of programs to support initiatives at local schools. The With You Program was created in 2020, giving schools the opportunity to apply for funding to complete projects. Since 2020, the Foundation has allocated over $105,000 to a variety of school projects.

“We empower our members to contribute just by going about their daily business,” said Frank Padak, Scott Credit Union President and CEO. “In fact, each debit transaction tied to SCU’s Blues or EPIC Checking account results in a donation to the Foundation.”

“Thank you to all the educators who applied on behalf of their schools and students. We appreciate their incredible efforts in making a tangible difference within our communities. And thanks to all of our supporters who share our passion for helping others,” said Padak. “We’ve been inspired by these stories and will continue to grow the reach of the SCU Community Foundation.”

Scott Credit Union is a full-service financial cooperative. When someone opens an account at the credit union, they become a member and an owner. Because of its structure, Scott Credit Union has given back over millions of dollars to members through a bonus dividend and loan interest rebate over the past 15 years.

Scott Credit Union currently has 25 locations; 22 locations in metro St. Louis including: Affton, MO; Ballpark Village in St. Louis, MO; Belleville, IL (two branches); Breese, IL; Collinsville, IL; Columbia, IL; Crestwood, MO; Edwardsville, IL (two branches); Fairview Heights, IL; Ferguson, MO; Highland, IL; Ladue, MO; Lebanon, IL; Mascoutah, IL; O’Fallon, IL; Trenton, IL; Troy, IL; Scott Air Force Base in Illinois; Waterloo, IL; and Wood River, IL; and three branches in the Chicago area in Evergreen Park, IL; Midlothian, IL; and at the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center.

Scott Credit Union Community Foundation is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization. For more information regarding the Foundation and its With You grant program, visit https://community.scu.org.

For details on opening accounts at Scott Credit Union, visit www.scu.org.