HUNT VALLEY CREDIT UNION

"PUTTING STUDENTS FIRST"

Schools across the United States face numerous issues and controversies. We want schools to be safe and orderly environments. We want classrooms to be equipped with the supplies and resources necessary to boost students’ academic success and social emotional well-being. We want the opportunity to establish innovative programs to support student growth. All of this requires that school systems build relationships with committed community and business partners.

Two years ago, The Education Foundation of BCPS established a grant program, “Putting Students First,” in partnership with First Financial Federal Credit Union to support schools. To date, this highly successful grant program has provided grants totaling $10,000 to 20 BCPS schools. recently, during the Celebration 2022 Putting Students First Grant Recipient Showcase, First Federal Financial leaders announced a $50,000 commitment to BCPS over the next five years. The credit union will double the previous grant amount and will award 10 $1,000 grants each year through the 2027-2028 school year. The extension of the grant program was announced by the following First Financial Federal leaders: Eric Church, president/CEO, Stephanie Peltzer, vice-president/chief marketing officer, and Bob Brenneman, chair of the Board of Directors.

Joceyln Strand, FFFCU Youth Outreach Coordinator, and Cindy Jones, Youth Outreach Manager, FFFCU, and 1st Vice-President, The Education Foundation, and Deborah Phelps, Executive Director, The Education Foundation

Laura Lemon, Associate Director, The Education Foundation, Dr. Myriam Yarbrough, Deputy Superintendent, BCPS, Joceyln Strand, FFFCU Youth Outreach Coordinator, and Cindy Jones, FFFCU Youth Outreach Manager

Deborah Phelps, Executive Director, The Education Foundation of BCPS, Inc., and Dr. Myriam Yarbrough, Deputy Superintendent, BCPS

Laura Lemon, Assoc. Director, The Education Foundation, Dr. Myriam Yarbrough, Deputy Supt., BCPS, Cindy Jones, Youth Outreach Mgr., FFFCU, and 1st Vice-President, The Education Foundation, and Deborah Phelps, Executive Director, The Education Foundation

“First Financial’s commitment to extend and enhance Putting Students First grants brings extra sparks of excitement and motivation to the educators in BCPS,” said Deborah S. Phelps, the Education Foundation’s executive director. “This opportunity will allow educators to create and design additional innovative, research-based programs. It will provide them with supplies and resources to implement the programs contributing to the overall learning environment for our students and allowing educators to continuously embrace the total child. The cultivation of relationships between our community, our schools, and our students builds for a better tomorrow. The foundation extends its utmost gratitude to First Financial Federal Credit Union for being our Education Champion for Team BCPS,"

Joceyln Strand, Youth Outreach Coordinator, FFFCU, Laura Lemon, Assoc. Dir., The Education Fdn., Deborah Phelps, Exec. Dir., The Education Fdn., Dr. Myriam Yarbrough, Deputy Supt., Cindy Jones, Youth Outreach Mgr., FFFCU, 1st VP, The Education Fdn.

Founded to serve the financial needs of educators, First Financial is well known for its commitment to enhancing education in the community it serves. “Seeing the impact this partnership has had within the educational community made it easy for us to decide to continue this initiative,” said First Financial President and CEO Eric Church. “Recognizing how critical quality education is to our future, we’re proud to deepen our support of the grant program and extend this partnership for another five years.”

Mick Rayburn, president of The Education of BCPS and vice-president at The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company, said, “It is a distinct honor for the foundation to be able to establish partnerships like FFFCU for BCPS. With opportunities such as this grant program, educators are able to further impact the educational readiness of our students, furnish additional supplies and resources for educators’ classroom and establish programs that will impact the continuous growth of our students. We appreciate the partnership and extend our gratitude on behalf of the foundation’s board of directors and executive committee.”

More News from Timonium

• YouTube Vs. Radio: The Draft Hype
• LOCAL SCHOOLS SELECTED AS TOP TIER