First Tech Federal Credit Union’s annual education grants award $891,000 to 54 non-profit organizations
Funds directed to organizations supporting education access and equality throughout California, Oregon and Washington
SAN JOSE, CA (May 22, 2020) — In its ongoing commitment to support the next generation of leaders, thinkers and innovators, First Tech Federal Credit Union is providing $891,000 in grants to 54 nonprofit organizations in California, Oregon and Washington. Organizations receiving funding are dedicated to supporting children in underserved communities with an emphasis on access, equity and inclusion, especially in the areas of science, technology, education and mathematics (STEM).
“Education access and equity is more important than ever before,” said Nicole Frisch, community engagement senior director at First Tech. “As we come together to navigate distance learning, we are committed to organizations focused on supporting underserved populations and improving access to STEM learning opportunities. We are always proud of our partnerships, but this year we’re especially honored to partner with organizations who have so quickly pivoted to support children and families in these critical times.”
The $891,000 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.
Directed to organizations supporting the next generation of leaders and thinkers, one of this year’s grant recipients includes Oregon state-based Free Geek, whose mission is to create sustainable reuse technology, enable digital access, and provide education to create a community that empowers people to realize their potential. With funds from First Tech, Free Geek is able to continue providing technology to those who need it most.
“First Tech has long been a trusted friend and supporter of Free Geek, but at this critical time, they are pulling out all the stops to ensure we include everyone in our digital future,” said Hilary Shohoney, Development Manager at Free Geek. “We’re grateful to have their partnership not just in the form of a monetary contribution, but also helping us to host technology donation drives and galvanize the business community around our cause. Technology access is a fundamental component in academic success now more than ever; every student needs access to a computer in order to engage meaningfully at school. First Tech’s ongoing support of our Plug into Portland program as well as the new COVID addressing TechNOW program has allowed us to provide free computers to those that need them most and right now they are going even further to help us make that possible and allow us to develop innovative solutions for helping even more kids.”
First Tech’s Annual Education Grants have been awarded to the following organizations:
California
Silicon Valley Education Foundation (San Jose, Calif.) $39,500 to support Elevate [Math], a tuition-free program that provides math intervention for middle school students to help them reach grade level proficiency.
Boys & Girls Club of Silicon Valley (Santa Clara County, Calif.) $22,000 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.
Family Giving Tree (Bay Area, Calif.) $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.
Computer History Museum (Mountain View, Calif.) $10,000 to support the Design Code Build, a program that works to bridge the digital divide by providing underrepresented youth access to STEM workshops.
East Palo Alto Kids Foundation (San Mateo County, Calif.) $10,000 to support Educator Micro Grants, a program that provides teachers with critical funding to help bridge wide gaps in funding and resources.
Junior Achievement of Northern California (Santa Clara, Calif.) $10,000.00 to support Inspiring Tomorrows, a program that equips youth with the financial knowledge and skills necessary to make informed financial choices.
Resource Area for Technology (RAFT) (Bay Area) $5,000.00 to support RAFT Summer Program, a program that addresses Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math, Entrepreneurship, and Design deficiencies in underrepresented student and teacher communities.
Oregon
Beaverton Education Foundation (Beaverton, Ore.) $70,000 to support the Beaverton School District Future Bus, a program that supports and encourages all students to explore academic experiences in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics.
Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) (statewide) $50,000 to support OMSI’s strategic accessibility and equity initiatives, providing more opportunities to reach and better serve the diverse community.
Girls Inc. of the Pacific Northwest (Portland, Ore.) $45,000 to support Eureka!, a STEM-based approach to engaging and empowering 8th – 12th grade girls to build confidence in STEM-related fields.
Free Geek (Portland, Ore) $40,000 to support TechNOW, 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.
Adelante Mujeres (Washington County, Ore.) $20,000 to support Chicas STEM, a program that provides culturally-appropriate STEM opportunities to more than 600 youth throughout Washington County.
Centro Cultural de Washington County (Cornelius and Hillsboro, Ore.) $15,000 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.
Financial Beginnings – Oregon (Washington County) $10,000 to support and enhance the financial capability of thousands of Washington-county residents by providing critical programrelated costs.
Washington
FIRST Washington (statewide) $25,000 to support girl-focused and diversity-focused FIRST program teams, bringing STEM equity, access, and inclusion to all youth.
Washington STEM (statewide) $20,000 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.
Museum of Flight Foundation (Seattle, Wash.) $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.
Pacific Science Center (Seattle, Wash.) $10,000 to support Discovery Corps, a program that builds enthusiasm for STEM and STEM careers and provides career-readiness preparation, working to empower young people from communities underrepresented in STEM fields.
Page Ahead (Seattle, Wash.) $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’S COMMUNITY COMMITMENT
First Tech Federal Credit Union is committed to supporting the next generation of leaders, thinkers and innovators. In 2019, First Tech provided $3.29 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.
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.
