Westerra Credit Union Awards Grants to 75 Local Colorado Schools

Steve Schmidle

​Throughout the year, Westerra gives time and monetary contributions to meet various community needs through its “Westerra Cares” initiative. A key tenet of that initiative is Westerra’s School Grant Program, which was launched in 2010 and has since become a cherished tradition.

Over the years, Westerra has contributed over $500,000 to more than 1,000 Denver metro area schools through their grant program. These monetary awards enable teachers and school staff to purchase items, such as, art supplies, sports fees and equipment, after-school programs, and classroom materials, which bolster academic success and personal growth.

This year, Westerra Credit Union proudly announced the allocation of 89 grants to support school programs and community initiatives across 12 school districts in Colorado. A full list of the 2023 School Grant Program Recipients is available at westerracu.com/about/community/schools/grants.

"Our goal was to examine each application with great attention to detail,” said Andrea McDermott, Community Relations Manager at Westerra. “We want to support programs that will create the greatest amount of good for our kids, communities, and schools.”

In 2023, in addition to the School Grant Program, Westerra contributed to education by providing school sponsorships, classroom grants, and employee volunteers through school district foundation partners. This included the Westerra Credit Union Scholarship, which benefits high school seniors seeking higher education, and over 1,300 employee volunteer hours by Westerra staff towards supporting local charities addressing basic needs.

“Giving back to the community has been and will always be a core value for Westerra Credit Union,” said Steve Schmidle, CEO/President at Westerra. “Our School Grant Program is one testament to Westerra's commitment to education that aims to empower teachers and students in their pursuit of academic success and personal growth.” 

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