SAN ANTONIO, Texas (December 18, 2024) – The Firstmark Foundation is pleased to announce it has awarded 20 San Antonio-area school employees $1,000 each, as part of its 2024-25 Education Grant Program. This is the fourth-straight year the Foundation has given education grants, and it is the third consecutive year it has provided $1,000 to 20 recipients.
“We are beyond grateful to have the opportunity to give back to our local educators for the fourth consecutive year, and we couldn’t have done it without our members, who continue to support community needs,” said Marisa Pérez-Díaz, executive director of the Firstmark Foundation. “Oftentimes, our local educators and schools do not have the resources they need to help build an engaging experience for students, and with these funds being delivered it’s supporting their ability to create that environment. We can’t wait for these educators’ vision come to life and look forward to seeing it all in action early next year!”
The Foundation’s Education Grant Program is designed to support full-time, K-12 educators and school employees who work directly with students by funding their innovative project ideas, including the materials necessary to successfully bring them to fruition. These project ideas engage students with important content and concepts to make an overall positive impact in the classroom. In most cases, these initiatives inspire other staff members within the school district to replicate those same efforts.
The list of the 2024-25 winners are as follows:
Alisha Stults | New Braunfels ISD | Memorial Elementary School
Amanda Combs | Northside ISD | Kallison Elementary School
Andrea Colwell | Northside ISD | Scobee Elementary School
Angela López García | Alamo Heights ISD | Alamo Heights High School
Angelena Watkins | Judson ISD | Judson Middle School STEM
Anna Sexton | Southwest ISD | McNair Middle School
Bettina Bonsu | George Gervin Academy | George Gervin Academy
Bonnie L. Garza | Medina Valley ISD | LaCoste Elementary School
Brandy González-Kee | Northside ISD | Clark High School
Darla White | Northside ISD | Zachry Middle School
Dr. James Hernandez | Harlandale ISD | Terrell Wells Middle School
Eliza Vela | San Antonio ISD | Longfellow Middle School
Karen Wilcox | North East ISD | Northwood Elementary School
Leticia McNabb | Northside ISD | Villarreal Elementary School
Melinda Valdez | Northside ISD | Beard Elementary School
Natalie Stuart | Northside ISD | Mead Elementary School
Samantha Santos | North East ISD | Colonial Hills Elementary
Sarah Lankford | Northside ISD | Vale Middle School
Shirley G. Tucker | La Vernia ISD | La Vernia Intermediate School
Valerie Valencia | Compass Rose Public Schools | Ingenuity Elementary School
To date, the Foundation has provided 75 education grants close to $70,000, and has collectively, alongside the credit union (Firstmark), funded upwards of $145,000 to school employees in San Antonio and the surrounding area. The contributions made by the Foundation would not be possible without members enrolled in Power of the Dollar® Checking, who continue to provide a stream of resources to fund these important initiatives that help create sustainability within the education system.
To learn more about the Firstmark Foundation and the ways Firstmark Credit Union supports the education community on behalf of its members, please visit the Foundation tab at firstmarkcu.org.
ABOUT The Firstmark Foundation
The FIRSTMARK FOUNDATION is a non-profit, public charity focused on making a tangible, positive impact in the education community through the collective giving of the membership. Firstmark Credit Union offers the Power of the Dollar® Checking that includes a $1 monthly impact fee that goes directly to the Firstmark Foundation. On behalf of the members of Firstmark, the Foundation will fund significant needs of our area schools and education community, such as constructing new facilities, improving existing amenities, enhancing learning spaces, and providing education grants and student scholarships. Founded on the philosophy of people helping people, ten teachers made the best use of their resources, established a credit union to serve educators, and 90 years later, Firstmark continues to build upon their legacy, supporting the vital work of our schools.
ABOUT Firstmark Credit Union
In 1932, ten teachers signed a charter to begin San Antonio Teachers Credit Union and served members from the original location at Fox Tech High School. Firstmark has grown the initial $475 investment to almost 100,000 members and over $1 billion in assets and continues to advance a legacy of creating superior member value and inspired service. Today, the Firstmark Foundation, a 501(c)(3) Public Charity, exists to make a tangible, positive impact in the education community through the collective support of the membership. Firstmark has been recognized by the San Antonio Business Journal as a Best Places to Work for the last five years, an achievement made possible by employees who proudly serve one another and the members. For more information about Firstmark Credit Union, please visit firstmarkcu.org.
