Scott Credit Union Community Foundation Funds 57 Student Centered School Projects Through 2025 With You Grants

Edwardsville, IL – December 10, 2025 – The Scott Credit Union Community Foundation is proud to announce the awarding of 57 With You Grants, totaling more than $150,000, to support student-centered projects across local schools in Illinois and Missouri. Since launching in 2020, the Foundation has now invested more than $507,000 in classroom and school initiatives, making the With You Grants Program a key part of its mission to  strengthen education and uplift the communities Scott Credit Union serves. 

The With You Grants Program is funded through the Foundation’s annual golf scramble  and a percentage of purchases made by members using their SCU debit cards. These dollars are reinvested directly back into local schools to support projects that enhance learning environments, improve inclusion, and meet essential student needs. 

“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 deep commitment to supporting schools and nurturing the potential of students. We are honored to help bring these innovative, meaningful projects to life, projects that will have a lasting impact on young people across our region.” 

This year, the Foundation received 132 With You Grants submissions. The 57 winning  projects were selected by a volunteer committee and evaluated based on project need, student impact, and clarity of the proposal. All applications were kept anonymous during  the review process. 

The 2025 funded projects span a wide range of student needs and creative educational solutions, including: 

• STEM and makerspace initiatives that encourage hands-on problem-solving
• Inclusive and accessible learning supports, such as communication boards and  adaptive equipment 
• Classroom essentials like books, sensory tools, and science materials
• Food security and wellness programs offering snacks, meals, and hygiene items
• Arts, leadership, and mentorship initiatives that build confidence and community 

Here is the complete list of all 57 projects funded through the 2025 With You Grants  Program: 

• Albert Cassens Elementary School (Glen Carbon, IL) – Supports the creation  of a Little Free Library to promote literacy and community engagement.
• Avery Elementary (Webster Groves, MO) – Provides accessible cafeteria tables and furniture to ensure inclusive mealtimes for all students. 
• Belle Valley School (Belleville, IL) – Supports hands-on STEM learning  through engineering and maker challenges. 
• Belle Valley School District #119 (Belleville, IL) – Supports The Bombers’ Closet, offering free hygiene supplies to boost student confidence and  attendance. 
• Belleville School District #118 (Belleville, IL) – Supports respite care and social programs for families impacted by autism. 
• Bierbaum Elementary School (St. Louis, MO) – Supplies tools, plants, and storage for a student garden club and outdoor learning space. 
• Collinsville High School (Collinsville, IL) – Provides classroom incentives to motivate and support students in credit recovery. 
• Edgar Road Elementary School (Webster Groves, MO) – Funds an ADA accessible playground to create inclusive play opportunities. 
• Edgar Road Elementary (Webster Groves, MO) – Enhances the school library with diverse books and functional learning areas. 
• Edward A. Fulton Jr. High School (O’Fallon, IL) – Equips science classrooms with microscopes to expand hands-on learning. 
• Edwardsville District 7: Woodland, Worden, Cassens & Columbus  (Edwardsville, IL) – Expands Think-a-Thon STEM mornings led by fifth graders across all elementary schools. 
• Edwardsville High School (Edwardsville, IL) – Enhances resources for multilingual learners with a classroom library and mobile book cart.
• Ferguson Middle School (Ferguson, MO) – Supports a school-based closet providing hygiene products and uniforms to students in need. 
• Granite City High School (Granite City, IL) – Upgrades survey equipment to support hands-on geometry and applied math learning. 
• Grigsby Elementary School (Granite City, IL) – Provides Translate Live devices to strengthen real-time communication with Spanish-speaking families.
• Henning Elementary School (Troy, IL) – Adds an accessible playground communication board to support inclusive social play.
• Highland Primary School (Highland, IL) – Supplies decodable books to  strengthen early literacy skills for kindergarteners. 
• Holman Middle School (St. Ann, MO) – Establishes a Makerspace with tools and materials for collaborative STEAM learning. 
• Holman Middle School (St. Ann, MO) – Provides healthy snacks that support focus and reading success during literacy challenges. 
• Holy Cross Lutheran (Collinsville, IL) – Supports a student production of The  Lion King with funding for licensing, costumes, and sets. 
• Jersey Community Middle School (Jerseyville, IL) – Enhances a life-skills  classroom with hygiene, cooking, art supplies, and adaptive playground items.
• KIPP Triumph Academy (St. Louis, MO) – Supports a mentorship program  empowering young Black boys through leadership and social-emotional growth.
• Logos School (St. Louis, MO) – Funds activity fees and transportation so all students can participate in sports and field trips. 
• Loyola Academy of St. Louis (St. Louis, MO) – Supports the school’s nutrition program providing daily meals and snacks to all students. 
• Lutheran High School South (St. Louis, MO) – Strengthens the Lancer Intramural League with updated equipment, shirts, awards, and event materials.
• Marissa Junior–Senior High (Marissa, IL) – Supports a STEAM-based  cardboard boat design-and-race project that builds teamwork and problem solving. 
• Mascoutah CUSD #19 – Gifted Program (Mascoutah, IL) – Supports the SOS  program, using reasoning games to build critical thinking skills. 
• Mascoutah School District 19: Scott, Mascoutah & Wingate Elementary  Schools (Mascoutah, IL) – Equips playgrounds with accessible communication  boards to support inclusive outdoor play. 
• Mason Clark Middle School (East St. Louis, IL) – Supports the student-led  Cardinal Care Closet, providing food and necessities to families in need.
• Nelson Elementary School (Edwardsville, IL) – Establishes a multilingual  learning library to support literacy for PreK–2 students. 
• North County Christian School (Florissant, MO) – Expands hands-on STEAM  opportunities in robotics, music, and enrichment programs. 
• Notre Dame High School (St. Louis, MO) – Equips the Specialized Learning  Department with technology for equitable test accommodations. 
• Our Lady Queen of Peace (Bethalto, IL) – Provides updated P.E. equipment to enhance fitness and collaborative play. 
• Pathways School (Belleville, IL) – Supplies toys, clothing, food, and essentials for families through the Holiday Hearts Project. 
• Rohan Woods School (St. Louis, MO) – Provides K–2 students access to PebbleGo for safe, structured digital research and literacy. 
• Roxana High School (Roxana, IL) – Supports a student-led sustainability garden through resources for growing and food processing.
• Roxana High School (Roxana, IL) – Supports the Best Buddies program fostering inclusion and leadership. 
• Roxana Senior High School (Roxana, IL) – Provides durable headphones to support equitable ELA instruction. 
• Roxana High School (Roxana, IL) – Supplies Anatomy in Clay kits for interactive anatomy learning. 
• Scott Elementary School (Scott AFB, IL) – Enhances independent reading with seat pockets and fun reading accessories. 
• St. Jacob Elementary School (St. Jacob, IL) – Adds bulletin boards and displays to showcase student work and celebrate learning. 
• St. Teresa Catholic School (Belleville, IL) – Updates playground swings to improve safety for all students. 
• St. Teresa Catholic School (Belleville, IL) – Provides new athletic uniforms for  7th and 8th grade teams to promote comfort and equity. 
• Triad High School (Troy, IL) – Supports culinary students in preparing  packaged meals for families experiencing food insecurity. 
• Triad Middle School (St. Jacob, IL) – Supplies books for a reading intervention program to help students reach grade-level success. 
• Triad Middle School (St. Jacob, IL) – Supports a quarterly incentive event rewarding positive student behavior. 
• Triad Middle School (St. Jacob, IL) – Supplies updated reading materials for middle school literature circles. 
• Triad Middle School (St. Jacob, IL) – Enhances literature circle experiences by supplying high-interest books and comfortable seating to engage students in  reading. 
• Trenton Elementary (Trenton, IL) – Supports thematic playdough learning activities that build fine-motor and communication skills. 
• Twin Echo Elementary (Collinsville, IL) – Provides access to IXL for standards-aligned academic practice across subjects in two separate  classrooms. 
• Waterloo Junior High School (Waterloo, IL) – Supplies adaptive P.E. equipment to support students with special needs. 
• Westhaven Elementary School (Belleville, IL) – Provides nutritious snacks and classroom games to support basic needs and social skills. 
• Wingate Elementary School (Shiloh, IL) – Provides materials for hands-on  cooking and life-skills lessons for students with developmental delays.
• Wingate Elementary School (Shiloh, IL) – Updates STEM bins with hands-on materials encouraging creativity and problem-solving. 
• Wingate Elementary School (Shiloh, IL) – Enhances a self-contained classroom with sensory and seating supports. 
• Wolf Branch Middle School (Swansea, IL) – Provides grab-and-go breakfasts and snacks to support students experiencing food insecurity.

“This year’s submissions show the incredible creativity and dedication of our local  educators,” said Padak. “From STEM initiatives and literacy programs to special  education supports and classroom essentials, these projects reflect a deep commitment  to helping students learn, grow, and thrive.” 

Beyond the funding itself, the With You Grants program strengthens relationships  between educators, students, and families, helping build long-term community resilience.  By supporting impactful classroom and school projects, the Scott Credit Union  Community Foundation helps ensure schools have the resources they need to succeed,  benefiting the entire community.

About Scott Credit Union

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 millions of dollars to members through a bonus dividend and loan interest rebate over the years.

Scott Credit Union currently has 23 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 one branch in the Chicago area in  Evergreen Park, IL.

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