(Fort Myers, FL) — The Foundation for Lee County Public Schools announces a charitable gift of $242,500 from the Suncoast Credit Union Foundation. The funds will be allocated to various educational initiatives, including Classroom, School & District Grants that support innovative teaching projects during the 2026-2027 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.
“This substantial partnership with Suncoast Credit Union goes a long way in ensuring our ability to enhance and enrich the public-school experience for our students and educators so that they have every opportunity to succeed,” said Marshall T. Bower, President & CEO of The Founda-tion for Lee County Public Schools. “We value our long-time relationship and are truly grateful for their engagement with us and the school district. Suncoast Credit Union has a keen understand-ing of the value of education.”
Suncoast Credit Union, Florida’s largest credit union, founded the Suncoast Credit Union Foun-dation 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 more than $63 million.
“Helping our communities is at the heart of everything we do,” said Kevin Johnson, president and CEO of Suncoast Credit Union. “We’re proud to support these important programs and ini-tiatives. Our goal is to help ensure every student has the opportunity to succeed and reach their full potential.”
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 Florida, the seventh largest in the United States by membership and the 10th largest by assets, with $21.1 billion. Char-tered in 1934 as Hillsborough County Teachers Credit Union, Suncoast operates 80 full-service branches and serves more than 1.4 million members statewide. As a communi-ty credit union, anyone who lives, works or attends school in Suncoast’s service area is eligible for membership. In 2021, Suncoast’s field of membership was expanded to in-clude public K-12 teachers, college educators and educational support staff across all of Florida’s 67 counties. Suncoast is dedicated to supporting the communities it serves, guided by its “people helping people” philosophy. Since 1990, the Suncoast Credit Un-ion Foundation has raised and donated more than $63 million to organizations and initia-tives that support the health, education and emotional well-being of children. For more information, visit suncoast.com or follow us on social media: Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.