EMPOWERING POTENTIAL: SUNCOAST CREDIT UNION AWARDS $15,000 TO ECKERD CONNECTS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Trish Jones, Vice President, Strategic Communications and Outreach | trjones@eckerd.org
Clearwater, FL — Eckerd Connects is excited to announce a $15,000 gift from the Suncoast Credit Union Foundation to support its Success Awards program. These awards help youth and adults’ close financial gaps that stand in the way of pursuing education and career training and transitioning into full-time employment.
The grant will provide up to 10 Success Awards to participants in Eckerd Connects’ workforce development, Job Corps, and community-based programs. These awards, which offer up to $5,000 each, empower recipients to overcome barriers like transportation, certification, housing and tuition costs, and other critical needs as they transition to careers and life.
“Suncoast Credit Union’s commitment to education and community empowerment exemplifies the impact that partnerships can have on individuals striving for a better future,” said Richard Semancik, Chief Operating Officer at Eckerd Connects. “This funding for Success Awards will enable us to provide essential resources to those who need them most, ensuring that young people and families can break cycles of poverty and build brighter futures.”
The Success Awards program reflects Eckerd Connects’ mission to empower potential and build pathways to success. Whether it’s covering the cost of tools for a new trade, completing a degree, or securing reliable transportation to work, the Success Awards are a critical step in turning aspirations into achievements.
“At Suncoast Credit Union, we recognize that true community impact is driven by equipping individuals with the tools they need to thrive,” said Bob Hyde, Vice President of Community Impact, Suncoast Credit Union. “The Success Awards program by Eckerd Connects is a powerful example of how targeted support can break down barriers and create pathways to opportunity. By helping individuals overcome financial obstacles, education and career training, we are not just supporting their immediate goals, but fostering long-term growth and sustainability within our communities.”
About Eckerd Connects
For more than 50 years, Eckerd Connects has been a leader in helping individuals overcome life’s challenges. As a national non-profit, Eckerd Connects provides education, skills training, and support to children, youth, and families in 21 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. Through its workforce development, Job Corps, and community-based programs, Eckerd Connects creates opportunities for individuals to achieve their full potential.
About Suncoast Credit Union
Suncoast Credit Union is the largest credit union in the state of Florida, the 8th largest in the United States based on membership, and the 10th largest in the United States based on its $18.6 billion in assets. Chartered in 1934 as Hillsborough County Teachers Credit Union, Suncoast Credit Union currently operates 79 full-service branches and serves more than 1.2 million members across Florida. As a community credit union, anyone who lives, works, attends school, or worships in Suncoast Credit Union’s service area is eligible for membership. In 2021, Suncoast Credit Union’s field of membership was expanded to include public K-12 teachers, college educators, and educational support staff from all of Florida’s 67 counties. Suncoast is passionate about community support. Since its founding in 1990, the Suncoast Credit Union Foundation has raised and donated more than $45 million to organizations and initiatives that support the health, education, and emotional well-being of children in the communities that the credit union serves. For more information, visit suncoast.com or follow us on social media: Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.
To learn more about Eckerd Connect’ Success Awards program, please see the following article: “Empowering Potential: The Transformative Power of Eckerd Connects’ Success Awards“. For more information about Eckerd Connects, visit eckerd.org.
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