HAUPPAUGUE, N.Y.–Over the past six months, Teachers FCU said it has remained focused on its guiding principle of being a good community partner.
From donations and sponsorships to employee volunteer hours, Teachers continues to reaffirm its pledge by way of community service and supporting initiatives and organizations that promote education, human services, economic development, and research. In total, Teachers contributed more than $125,000 and spent 1,223 hours volunteering in the community between January and June of 2022.
Among its activities:
February 2022, Science Bowl
In February, Teachers Federal Credit Union announced its continued sponsorship of the Brookhaven National Laboratory Science Bowl and $4,000 donation. Since its inception, middle school, and high school students from across New York City, Suffolk County, and Nassau County have been competing in the science bowl - a regional competition that is a precursor to the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Science Bowl. Teachers’ sponsorship provided 196 students from 34 schools with the opportunity to further their STEM education learn about workshops, programs, and internships that can support their STEM goals.
February 2022, Midnight Run
As a proud sponsor of St. John’s University Athletics, Teachers partnered with one of the school’s student-volunteer programs to give back to Midnight Run, a volunteer organization dedicated to supporting the homeless in New York City. Teachers donated $1,000 so that students could distribute food, clothing, blankets, and personal care items to those in need.
March 2022, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals
Throughout the month of March, Teachers hosted a fundraiser supporting Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals®. In addition to teammates and members donating to the cause by purchasing a Miracle Balloon at Teachers' retail locations, the organization matched up to $10,000 of donations, totaling $20,120. All funds raised went toward critical healthcare services for children in need at the nine Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals in New York.
April 2022, Island Harvest Healthy Harvest Farm
Teachers announced in a joint press conference on Earth Day, April 22, 2022, that it would continue its sponsorship and volunteer efforts with Island Harvest, accompanied by a $20,000 donation. Throughout the season, Teachers employees will volunteer at Island Harvest to assist in planting, weeding, and raking as well as distributing food throughout the community.
Island Harvest is a nonprofit organization on Long Island that supports over 300,000 Long Islanders battling hunger and poverty due to food insecurity. In total, Island Harvest’s Healthy Harvest Farm supplies over 20,000 pounds of nutritious, locally grown fruits and vegetables across Long Island to support its community’s overall well-being.
May 2022, Teacher Appreciation Week Contest
During the nationally recognized Teacher Appreciation Week, Teachers Federal Credit Union announced the winners of its second-annual “Teacher Appreciation Week Contest,” honoring educators who have worked tirelessly to help inspire, encourage, and challenge future change-makers. Teachers awarded 12 educators with $1,000 classroom grants each and Teachers FCU gift bags for their students. Any K-12 educator who worked in a public or private school district in the US was eligible for nomination.
May 2022, Special Olympics New York
Teachers sponsored the Long Island Spring Games of Special Olympics New York. The event, which took place on May 21, 2022, included more than 400 participants who competed in track and field, swimming, powerlifting, and tennis. Teachers donated $10,000 and a group of volunteers assisted with check-in, athlete escorting, and lunch distribution, among other general volunteer work.
May 2022, ALS Ride for Life
In recognition of May being amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) awareness month, Teachers Federal Credit Union sponsored ALS Ride for Life’s 25th Annual Honoree Recognition Benefit, donating $10,000 towards the search for a cure. In its eleven years of participation, Teachers has raised more than $85,000 for ALS Ride for Life. Teachers is dedicated to supporting the ALS Association in its mission to raise funds to find a cure, support patients and their families, and raise public awareness.
To honor the theme of “A Cure is Blowing in the Wind,'' Teachers employees also volunteered to help plant 6,000 pinwheels at Stony Brook University. This number represents the number of lives lost each year due to ALS.
June 2022, Teachers Scholarship Award Winners
For more than 30 years, Teachers has awarded annual scholarships as part of its commitment to making the pursuit of higher education attainable to all. This year, eight accomplished high school seniors were awarded with a $2,500 Teachers Federal Credit Union Scholarship, and five accomplished students were awarded with a $2,500 Robert G. Allen Scholarship.
Teachers recognizes how costly higher education can be and is proud to support student members embarking on their journey of continuous learning and success. Teachers was founded with education at its core, and these annual scholarship funds reinforce our commitment to ensure that more students have the resources to reach their academic goals.