Scott Credit Union Community Foundation Awards $150,000 to Local Schools

Edwardsville, IL – December 16, 2024 – The Scott Credit Union Community Foundation is proud to announce the awarding of $150,000 in With You education grants to support 40 educational initiatives across local schools. Since its inception in 2020, the Foundation has allocated over $355,000 to various school projects, making the With You Grant Program a cornerstone of its commitment to fostering innovation and growth in local education.

The With You Grant Program raises funds through the Foundation’s annual golf scramble and a percentage of annual purchases made by members using their SCU debit cards. These funds are reinvested directly into the schools to support projects that enrich the learning experience for students.

“We believe in the power of education to transform lives,” said Frank Padak, President and CEO of Scott Credit Union. “The With You Grant Program reflects our commitment to supporting schools and nurturing the potential of students. We are proud to invest in these innovative educational projects that will have a lasting impact on the young people in the communities where we live and work.”

In 2024, 127 With You grant applications were submitted, and the 40 winners were chosen by a volunteer committee based on factors such as project need, the percentage of student enrollment impacted, and the direct benefits the projects will provide. All submissions were kept anonymous until after the winners were selected.

From projects ranging from inclusive and adaptive playgrounds to STEM programs and food bags to feed families, here are the 40 projects funded in 2024 through the With You Grant Program:

· Amelia V. Carriel Jr High School (O’Fallon, IL) – Transform the school corridors into an uplifting space that reflects the diversity, strengths, and aspirations of the student body, making every student feel valued and confident.

· Bayless Elementary (St. Louis, MO) – Purchase a folio cabinet to hold our music folders.

· Delores Moye Elementary School (O’Fallon, IL) – Create Non-verbal Playground Communication Board Signs to help students communicate with adults as well as peers.

· Delores Moye School (O’Fallon, IL) – Enhance our early childhood special education (EC SPED) classroom by expanding our new curriculum to include a comprehensive cooking program.

· ECUSD7 – Middle Schools (Lincoln & Liberty) (Edwardsville, IL) – Middle School Supplemental Books/Readers for English Learners.

· Green Park Lutheran School (St. Louis, MO) – Replace emergency exit door.

· Highland Primary (Highland, IL) – Acquire the Fully Loaded Mobile STEM Station Bundle.

· Hixson Middle School (Webster Groves, MO) – Essential Skills classes are collaborating with Thrive Jr. entrepreneurs to create a unique coffee shop and school store.

· Hixson Middle School (Webster Groves, MO) – Students in the Thrive Jr. program apply their entrepreneurial skills by creating small businesses. This funding will allow them to purchase essential supplies and materials, giving them a solid foundation to start and grow their businesses.

· Holman Middle School (St. Ann, MO) – Help off-set the cost of the equipment for the Holman Step Team.

· Holman Middle School (St. Ann, MO) – Create motivation strategies for struggling reading students: We use the Reading Plus program to help students improve their comprehension and word knowledge.

· Jersey Community High School (Jerseyville, IL) – Assist in funding the 9-12 Life Skills Class.

· Jersey Community Middle School (Jerseyville, IL) – Replace aged appliances in a middle school Life Skills class.

· KIPP St. Louis High School (St. Louis, MO) – Provide licensed mental health counselors for high school students.

· KIPP Victory and all St. Louis KIPP schools (St. Louis, MO) – Buy iPads & digital resources to supplement curriculum.

· Logos School (St. Louis, MO) – Essential supplies and services for our students.

· Loyola Academy of St. Louis (St. Louis, MO) – Provide students in grades 4-8 with free breakfast, lunch, and after-school snacks daily.

· Marine Elementary School (Marine, IL) – Purchase Second Step Social Emotional Learning Kit for 3rd Grade.

· Mascoutah School District 19 (Wingate School, Scott Elementary School, and Mascoutah Elementary School) (Belleville, IL) – Purchase a class set of Ozobots to bring STEM into our curriculum. Ozobots are small,round robots that can be programmed to complete simple tasks using a code drawn on paper.

· Meadowbrook Intermediate School (Moro, IL) – Install a Scholastic Book Vending Machine that will provide a selection of quality books that students can take home to keep and read with their families.

· Millstadt Consolidated School District 160 (Millstadt, IL) – The Positive Panther Project is a school-wide, multi-step approach designed to enhance student engagement and foster a positive and collaborative school culture.

· Millstadt Primary Center (Millstadt, IL) The PATH Program offers a way for students to stay healthy and active during recess by walking or running the paved PATH.

· Northview Elementary (Jennings, MO) – Establish a Culinary Arts Demonstration Classroom that will serve as a dynamic hub for health and nutrition education.

· Pathways Elementary (Belleville, IL) – Supply our families in need with weekly food bags.

· Roxana Junior High (Roxana, IL) – Purchase equipment to broaden the scope of items available for sale in the school store run by special needs students.

· Roxana Senior High School (Roxana, IL) – Create an immersive and interactive student museum.

· Sister Thea Bowman Catholic School (East St. Louis, IL) – Replace the hardware to refit the door and install new electrical wiring. Add an ADA-compliant ramp to make our main entrance fully compliant and accessible.

· South Primary (Roxana CUSD #1) (Roxana, IL) – Provide a portable hair washing sink.

· St. Boniface (Edwardsville, IL) – Streamline our process for screening students for interventions in the areas of math and reading.

· St. Jacob Elementary School (Saint Jacob, IL) – Purchase new hearing screening headphones to ensure accurate and reliable hearing assessment results.

· St. Joseph Catholic School (Freeburg, IL) – Purchase the Ozobot Evo Classroom kit, a robotics and coding kit for our STEM class.

· Triad Middle School (Saint Jacob, IL) – Purchase classroom novel sets.

· Triad Middle School (Saint Jacob, IL) – Enhance the Crusader Cart- students from special education class practice Ljubljana (barista) skills by selling coffee, snacks, and more.

· Triad Middle School (Saint Jacob, IL) – Provide updated book titles and genres for students to choose from so that there are books that appeal to all students’ interests.

· Trinity Lutheran Ministries (Edwardsville, IL) – Install ADA-compliant and safety fencing and gates for playground and play area to safeguard from the parking lot while allowing access to everyone, regardless of ability.

· Twin Echo Elementary School/ Summit Elementary School (Collinsville, IL) Provide Grief Kits to students who have recently experienced the loss of a loved one (i.e. parent, guardian, sibling, close relative).

· Webster Elementary School (Collinsville, IL) – Create an Inclusive & Adaptive Playground for students who are Neurodivergent, Early Childhood, and Preschool.

· Wingate Elementary (Belleville, IL) – Create a Sensory-Friendly Special Education Classroom.

· Wolf Branch Elementary School (Belleville, IL) – Add an additional sensory room in the lower grade primary wing of our school.

· Woodland Elementary School (Edwardsville, IL) 2 PocketTalk translation devices for new English speakers in our district.

“We’re proud to see how the With You program has evolved, supporting projects from STEM initiatives and creative arts to special education programs and classroom essentials,” said Padak. “At a time when schools face budgetary constraints, our Foundation has expanded its reach to provide more resources and opportunities for students and educators, showcasing our commitment to the community.”

Beyond the funds, the With You Grants program strengthens ties between educators, students, and their families, fostering long-term community resilience. By supporting impactful classroom projects, Scott Credit Union helps ensure that schools have the resources they need to succeed—benefiting the entire community.

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 our Community Foundation page.

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 24 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 two branches in the Chicago area in Evergreen Park, 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.