FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 17, 2025
Media Contact:
Marshall T. Bower, Esq.
President & CEO
Tel. (239) 337- 0433
Marshall@LeeSchoolFoundation.org
SUNCOAST CREDIT UNION FOUNDATION PROVIDES $242,500 TO THE FOUNDATION FOR LEE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
(FORT MYERS, FL) — The Foundation for Lee County Public Schools announces a charitable gift of $242,500 from the Suncoast Credit Union Foundation. These funds will be allocated to various educational initiatives, including Classroom, School & District Grants that support innovative teaching projects during the 2025-2026 academic year. A portion will also be dedicated to the Golden Apple Teacher Recognition Program™, which recognizes outstanding educators, while additional funds will support the Take Stock in Children program, providing scholarships and mentoring for at-risk students. The remaining resources will enhance student advocacy efforts, and fund programs including Kids Tag Art and the Education Resource Center, ensuring a well-rounded educational experience for all students in the district, along with many other programs designed to strengthen the education system.
Noelle Branning, Board Chair of the Foundation for Lee County Public Schools, said, “We are deeply grateful to the Suncoast Credit Union Foundation for this generous gift, which strengthens our ability to invest directly in students and educators. Their support helps us deliver critical classroom grants, expand hands-on STEM opportunities, and provide meaningful programs such as Take Stock in Children events, professional development for educators, and resources for elementary art teachers. This gift is a true investment in the future of Lee County’s children and the educators who inspire them every day.”
Suncoast Credit Union, Florida’s largest credit union, founded the Suncoast Credit Union Foundation to promote the education, health and emotional well-being of children in the community. Each time a Suncoast member uses their debit or credit card, the credit union donates four cents to the Foundation to fund local initiatives. Since its inception in 1990, the Foundation has raised and donated over $55 million.
“The work of educators cannot be overstated or left to chance.” said Bob Hyde, Vice President of Community Impact. “Supporting these vital programs as well as mentoring, improves lives beyond those who are direct recipients because education has a ripple effect helping families and communities thrive and prosper. Education is not just part of our mission but part of our founding DNA,” he added.
About The Foundation for Lee County Public Schools
The Foundation for Lee County Public Schools, Inc. is a private 501(C)3 organization established in 1986. Its mission is to enhance and enrich the quality of public education in Lee County for students and educators through programs, resources, and experiences made possible through corporate, individual, and educational partnerships. Find us online at www.leeschoolfoundation.org, on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and X.
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 $19.0 billion in assets. Chartered in 1934 as Hillsborough County Teachers Credit Union, Suncoast Credit Union currently operates 78 full-service branches and serves more than 1.3 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 $55 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.