ARCADIA, Fla. (November 2, 2016) — The DeSoto County Education Foundation (DCEF) announces a $12,500 donation from the Suncoast Credit Union Foundation. The donation will enhance learning opportunities for DeSoto County public school students.

The Suncoast Credit Union funds will be distributed in the following ways:

• $2,000 for the 2017 Employee of the Year
• $1,000 for the 2017 Rookie Teacher of the Year
• $7,000 for mini-grant projects promoting quality education
• $1,500 to sponsor the Top 10% Banquet that recognizes the highest performing students in the 2017 graduating class
• $1,000 for the High School Robotics Team.

“We are grateful for the partnership of the Suncoast Credit Union Foundation in our quest to improve programs in the School District of DeSoto County,” said Sara Walker at DCEF. “These programs enhance the value of the education for many of our students and without these funds, that might not happen. The Suncoast Foundation’s mission of promoting the education, health and emotional well-being of children in the communities they serve is a noble one.”

About DeSoto County Education Foundation

The goal of DCEF is to acquire and distribute resources to DeSoto County Schools which enhance, enrich and supplement learning opportunities for students, staff and the community. This is achieved by providing direct support for student development, encouraging staff excellence and creativity, promoting the school district as a center for community learning and helping build a strong school partnership with the private business sector. For more information about sponsoring the Desoto County Education Foundation or scholarship opportunities, please contact Sara Walker at swalkerdcef@gmail.com.

About Suncoast Credit Union

Suncoast Credit Union is the largest credit union in the state of Florida, the eighth largest in the United States based on membership and the 13th largest in the United States based on its $7.8 billion in assets. Chartered in 1934 as Hillsborough County Teachers Credit Union, Suncoast Credit Union currently operates 61 full-service branches and serves more than 686,670 members in the following Florida counties: Charlotte, Citrus, Collier, DeSoto, Dixie, Gilchrist, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Lee, Levy, Manatee, Marion, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Sarasota and Sumter. Since its founding in 1990, the Suncoast Credit Union Foundation has raised and donated over $16 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: suncoastcreditunion.com, facebook.com/SuncoastCreditUnion or @SuncoastCU.

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