The DBQ Project

Suncoast Credit Union Foundation donated funds to the Charlotte County Public Schools in an effort to support the DBQ (Document Based Questions) Project.

The DBQ Project integrates literacy skills with content in history to help students learn to think critically and write clearly.

Teachers that implemented The DBQ Project saw growth in their students’ FSA ELA scores that measure reading and writing proficiency. Suncoast is proud to be a part of helping students grow in Charlotte County!

Schoolhouse Hustle

The Suncoast Credit Union Foundation was proud to support Schoolhouse Hustle, one of the best-attended races in Citrus County!

Proceeds from Schoolhouse Hustle go to support public education in Citrus County. Since the mission of the Suncoast Credit Union Foundation is to improve the lives of children in our communities, it’s an honor to contribute to such an important cause!

Golden Terrace Elementary

It was amazing to see 4th graders investigate what an owl eats thanks to a grant from the Suncoast Credit Union Foundation!

This grant allowed 4th graders at Golden Terrace Elementary to get hands-on experience dissecting owl pellets. They used critical thinking skills to try to figure out what animals the mystery bones belonged to and math skills to graph their findings.

We’re proud to see how science came to life for these students!

Reflex Math

The Suncoast Credit Union Foundation awarded a grant to Memorial Elementary School for the Reflex Math program to help improve students’ math skills.

A total of 499 students benefitted from the Reflex Math program. The students were only 23% fluent in math before the program launched. After the program started, math fluency levels increased to 56% by the end of the school year!

Suncoast Credit Union Scholars

The Suncoast Credit Union Foundation awarded $2,000 scholarships to two high school seniors in Dixie County as part of the Suncoast Credit Union Scholars program. We are proud to support public education and help future generations achieve their goals.

Suncoast Credit Union Scholars

The Suncoast Credit Union Foundation awarded $2,000 scholarships to two high school seniors in Gilchrist County as part of the Suncoast Credit Union Scholars program. We are proud to support public education and help future generations achieve their goals.

Glades Grants for Great Ideas

The Suncoast Credit Union Foundation was proud to fund Glades Grants for Great Ideas in 2017.

These funds provided three teacher teams and one individual teacher the resources needed to provide classroom libraries, book bags and fitness software.

Thanks to the grant, the teachers were able to improve students’ reading skills, increase their interest in science and to help them learn about the importance of fitness.

3rd Annual TechKnow Robotics Camp

Everything is more exciting with a robot! The Hardee County 4H and Hardee High School’s science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) program partnered with TechKnow Clubs of America to hold the 3rd Annual TechKnow Robotics Camp.

The Suncoast Credit Union Foundation was proud to sponsor the robotics camp and see all that the students learned. They got the chance to build and program the robots, then take the robots through different challenges. At the end of camp, there was a robotics competition so the students could showcase all of their accomplishments.

Aquaculture Program

The Suncoast Credit Union Foundation was proud to award a grant to Clewiston High School for the Aquaculture Program.

This program offers students a chance to gain skills that could help prepare them for employment upon graduation. Students do hands-on work with the fish, tanks and technology used in the tilapia industry.

The class is conducted like true business. Students write loan applications and business plans, then put those plans into action!

Gotcha!

We were thrilled to fund the Gotcha! program in Hernando County. This grant infused science, math, technology, writing, public speaking and behavioral science through interactive hands-on learning experiences.

Students got the chance to participate in real investigations using forensic activities to solve crimes. The Suncoast Credit Union Foundation loved helping a program that let these students learn in such a fun way!

Lounging into Literacy: Tales from the Couch

The ultimate goal of the Lounging into Literacy: Tales from the Couch program is to help preschoolers with special needs develop a love of reading. They do this by creating cozy reading nooks with comfy couches, audiobooks and portable CD players so that students are enticed to want to read.

The Suncoast Credit Union Foundation was proud to offer funding to create independent lifelong readers through this program. Hearing the stories read aloud helps children learn about the construction of language while increasing their vocabulary and knowledge of the world.

Little Leapers

In 2017, Suncoast Credit Union Foundation supported the “Little Leapers” Program at Quantum Leap Farm, a program that empowers people of all ages and abilities to grow strong, achieve therapeutic goals and overcome challenges through equine-assisted therapies.

Our grant helped the children enjoy adaptive riding, exploring the farm, grooming horses and feeding and caring for the goats, chickens and donkeys in a program facilitated by a licensed Occupational and Speech Therapist!

Golisano Children’s Hospital

The Suncoast Credit Union Foundation proudly helped fund a classroom at Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida.

Hospital stays can be a very stressful time for families. This program lets families focus on getting their child healthy without worrying about getting behind on school work. The hospital school program is free for patients up to age 18.

Bronson Middle

The Suncoast Credit Union Foundation partnered with the Levy County Schools Foundation to award a grant to benefit 6th graders at Bronson Middle High School in the subject areas of language arts, critical thinking and intensive reading.

These funds made it possible for the school to subscribe to Flocabulary and Nearpod, programs that incorporate interactive lessons and virtual field trips through students’ mobile devices.

It was an honor to be a part of helping students experience a new and exciting way to learn!

STEAM

STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math) education initiatives are important for all ages. That’s why the Suncoast Credit Union Foundation was proud to provide funding for Tinkering Studios, a STEAM education program for VPK students.

Tinkering Studios are strategically designed interactive spaces that allow students to imagine, design, create, build, problem solve, hypothesize and innovate projects. Thanks to these funds, students can explore and use varied materials to merge the arts with engineering and science learning outcomes.

Suncoast Credit Union Scholars

The Suncoast Credit Union Foundation awarded $2,000 scholarships to two high school seniors in Marion County as part of the Suncoast Credit Union Scholars program. We are proud to support public education and help future generations achieve their goals.

Sertoma Speech & Hearing Foundation

The Suncoast Credit Union Foundation was proud to fund an early childhood hearing loss screening program for the Sertoma Speech & Hearing Foundation.

Despite medical advances, there are children in Florida with permanent hearing loss. Many are disadvantaged children from low income households and underserved rural areas.

Without the ability to communicate effectively, these children might not be able to reach their full academic and career potential. Suncoast is honored for the opportunity to help make such an impact on these children!

Wheelchairs 4 Kids

Many children living with physical disabilities are in wheelchairs that are too small, in disrepair or do not fit the needs of the child. That’s why the Suncoast Credit Union Foundation awarded a $10,000 grant to Wheelchairs 4 Kids, a non-profit dedicated to improving the lives of children with physical disabilities.

This grant helped Wheelchairs 4 Kids provide wheelchairs, home and vehicle modifications and other assistive or therapeutic equipment to children at no charge to the families.

Engineering and Robotics Academy

The Suncoast Credit Union Foundation partnered with the Polk Education Foundation to award a grant to Mulberry High School for their Engineering and Robotics Academy.

These funds provided the program with the learning system and technology needed to give students the hands-on experience essential to the engineering and robotics fields.

EducateSRQ Program

The Suncoast Credit Union Foundation partnered with the Education Foundation of Sarasota County to provide a grant for the EducateSRQ program.

The funds were used for a classroom-based exploration of states of matter, motion and forces. Visiting scientists from the Suncoast Science Center gave demonstrations and guided students in experiments like making GLOOP.

Following the demonstrations, teachers engaged students in experiments, games and projects to further strengthen their knowledge of STEM concepts.

Car STEM Challenge

Eighth grade students from Wildwood Middle High and South Sumter Middle participated in the school district’s second annual Solar Powered Car STEM Challenge, thanks in part to a grant from the Suncoast Credit Union Foundation.

The Let’s Run on the Sun event taught students about renewable energy technology by letting them design and build a solar-powered race car, then race them in a competition. Students had a blast learning and competing in this event and we were proud to be a part of it!