BEAUMONT, Texas– Education First Federal Credit Union distributed checks totaling more than $50,000 to 136 local schools in Southeast Texas. The donations were made through its "We’re Paying It Forward" program. A luncheon was held at The Event Centre in downtown Beaumont.
This program was developed five years ago to support local education while allowing Education First members to direct a portion of their own dollars back into the communities in which they live and work, the credit union said.
Through the We’re Paying It Forward program, when an Education First member takes out a loan, the credit union donates a portion of that loan back to the school of that member’s choice.
“This is just one way we can give back to the communities that we serve," said President and CEO Keith Brenek. "It’s a great way for us to provide some support to the schools and students in our field of membership, and this program creates a positive impact with our members.”
As the program grows in popularity each year donations to area schools have more than tripled from $13,000 in 2014 to $50,000 in 2020. To date, donations have totaled $200,000 in unrestricted funds to help supplement school budgets and allow local schools to direct the funds where they are needed most, EFFCU said.