First Tech Federal Credit Union awards $1.1 million to education nonprofits
Funds benefit more than 60 nonprofit organizations serving communities throughout California, Oregon and Washington
SAN JOSE, CA (April 23, 2019) — In its ongoing commitment to support the next generation of leaders, thinkers and innovators, First Tech Federal Credit Union approved more than $1.1 million in grants to over 60 nonprofit organizations in California, Oregon and Washington. The organizations that received funding support children in underserved communities with an emphasis on access, equity and inclusion, especially in the areas of science, technology, education and mathematics (STEM).
The $1.1 million awarded is part of First Tech’s ongoing philanthropic work within local communities. First Tech is committed to building strong relationships with organizations that are helping to create an inclusive community where children have the tools they need to learn and succeed.
This year’s funding was directed to organizations supporting the next generation of leaders and thinkers, such as Oregon-based Free Geek, whose mission is to sustainably reuse technology, enable digital access, and provide education to create a community that empowers people to realize their potential. With a grant from First Tech, Free Geek is better able to bridge the growing digital divide and provide young learners access to technology to build a more diverse pipeline of STEM professionals.
“First Tech supports us at all levels of our mission,” says Sara Rasmussen, digital inclusion manager with Free Geek. “Technology access is fundamental to academic success and, later on, economic opportunity, for all kids. By providing this support to young people, we’re opening a door. First Tech has made it possible for us to grow and improve the Plug into Portland program and allow us to develop innovative solutions for helping even more kids.”
“As the credit union for the world’s leading technology companies, we’re committed to supporting the next generation of leaders, thinkers and innovators through improved access to education,” said Nicole Frisch, community engagement director at First Tech. “We’re thrilled to support these exceptional organizations as they strive to create long-lasting change. Together, we’re building stronger communities that can thrive for generations to come. ”
Grants awarded during the recent cycle include the following organizations:
Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI), Oregon; $75,000 to support OMSI’s strategic accessibility and equity initiatives, providing more opportunities to reach and better serve the diverse community.
Silicon Valley Education Foundation, California and Oregon; $74,000 to support Elevate [Math], a tuition-free program that provides math intervention for middle school students to help them reach grade level proficiency.
Beaverton Education Foundation, Oregon; $70,000 to support the BSD Future Bus and STEAM 4 All, a program that supports and encourages all students to explore academic experiences in science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics.
Girls Inc. of the Pacific Northwest, Oregon; $44,500 to support Eureka!, a STEM-based approach to engaging and empowering 8th -12th grade girls to build confidence in STEM-related fields.
Free Geek, Oregon; $44,000 to support Plug into Portland, a digital access program providing technology and training to K-12 students in the Portland-Metro area with a goal of increasing academic achievement for all.
Computer History Museum, Mountain View; $35,000 to support the Fellows Awards and Design Code Build, a program that works to bridge the digital divide by providing underrepresented youth access to STEM workshops.
Junior Achievement of Washington, Washington; $35,000 to support JA BizTown ®, a program that provides students with the opportunity to apply in-school financial education to real life scenarios.
Boys & Girls Club of Silicon Valley, California; $30,000 to support C5: 21st Century Learning Initiative, a year-round academic program focused on developing the technology and literacy skills needed to be successful in school, career and life.
Washington STEM, Washington; $30,000 grant to support Career Connected Learning and Early Math initiatives, a program that works to improve early math learning and empower children from underrepresented communities to explore STEM careers.
FIRST Washington, Washington; $25,000 to support girl-focused and diversity-focused FIRST program teams, bringing STEM equity, access and inclusion to all youth including minorities, low-income and girls.
Centro Cultural de Washington County, Oregon; $20,000 to expand and amplify the Lego Robotics program, making it more accessible for youth of color from K-12 and to create a more cohesive pipeline for STEM education, especially for girls.
Family Giving Tree, Milpitas; $20,000 to support Back-to-School Drive Backpack Build, a program that provides backpacks filled with school supplies to those children most in need in our communities.
Adelante Mujeres, Oregon; $20,000 to support Fiesta of Hope and Chicas STEM, a program that provides culturally-appropriate STEM opportunities to more than 600 youth throughout Washington County.
The Tech Museum of Innovation, San Jose; $15,000 to support Girls @ The Tech initiative, a program that builds a pipeline for girls to nurture their interests, boost their skills and solidify their confidence in STEM.
Junior Achievement of Northern California, Walnut Creek; $10,000 to support Project SUCCEED, a program that equips youth with the financial knowledge and skills necessary to make informed financial choices.
Museum of Flight, Seattle; $10,000 to support Michael P. Anderson Memorial Aerospace Program, a program that inspires underserved youth to experience the thrill of math and science and to dream of their own possibilities within the field of Aerospace engineering.
East Palo Alto Kids Foundation, East Palo Alto; $10,000 to support Educator Micro Grants, a program that provides teachers with critical funding to help bridge wide gaps in funding and resources.
Pacific Science Center, Seattle; $10,000 to support Curiosity Days, a program that seeks to inspire individuals to explore connections between science and the Seattle community.
Page Ahead, Seattle; $10,000 to support Book Up Summer, a program that gives students from low-income families the resources they need to maintain their reading skills during the summer.
About First Tech Federal Credit Union
First Tech Federal Credit Union is the financial partner for tech innovators. As the largest national credit union founded by and for the people of tech, First Tech understands the unique financial needs of their community and tailors services and solutions for them, including in-person banking, online and mobile banking, mortgages, loans, an investment division, and more. Because First Tech is member-owned, it puts people over profits, with competitive rates and lower fees that provide members with the roadmap they need for future financial success. Founded more than 70 years ago, First Tech has over $17 billion in assets and serves employees of cutting-edge companies like Microsoft, Intel, Cisco, Amazon, Nike, and Google through its dozens of branch locations and more than 5,000 Co-Op Shared Branch locations across the U.S. First Tech is federally insured by the NCUA and is an Equal Housing Lender. For more information, visit www.firsttechfed.com.
About First Tech Federal Credit Union Community Programs
First Tech Federal Credit Union is committed to supporting the next generation of leaders, thinkers and innovators. In 2018, First Tech provided $3.28 million in charitable giving and more than 30,000 employee volunteer hours to the community; directing dollars and time to nonprofit partners who provide programs and services to children and families in need. First Tech’s philanthropic focus areas include support for education (STEM, early childhood literacy and financial education), research (Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and supportive health services for children) and innovation (food, shelter and safety). Visit firsttechfed.com/community to learn more about the ways First Tech pays it forward throughout the year.
