Suncoast Credit Union Foundation Provides $30,000 to United Way Suncoast Summer Care Program
United Way Suncoast has received a $30,000 charitable gift from the Suncoast Credit Union Foundation to support its Summer Care learning program across the region.
Summer Care promotes school readiness and prevents summer learning loss by providing children from ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) families with access to high-quality summer programs and literacy support in Hillsborough, Pinellas, DeSoto, Manatee and Sarasota counties. Funding from the Suncoast Credit Union Foundation will support Summer Bridge Books and targeted literacy tutoring to help students maintain and strengthen reading skills during the summer months. The program also provides scholarships for Pre-K through fifth-grade students to attend high-quality summer camps where literacy engagement and experiential learning are integrated into daily activities.
In 2025, United Way Suncoast expanded Summer Care to all five counties it serves, growing from 634 scholarships at 27 sites to 891 scholarships at 32 sites across the region. A total of 1,549 children participated in daily academic activities using the Summer Bridge Book curriculum, and 81% maintained or improved their academic skills based on pre- and post-test assessments. In addition, 301 students received tutoring support, and 96% of those who completed assessments maintained or increased their literacy skills.
“This investment from the Suncoast Credit Union Foundation helps ensure children across our region continue learning during summer break,” said Vice President of Community Impact Nicole Brown. “By providing literacy resources, tutoring and high-quality summer experiences, Summer Care helps students return to school ready to learn and gives families greater confidence that their children are building the skills they need for the future.”
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 $61 million.
“Helping the children of our community stay connected to learning during the summer months is important in preventing lag in the next school year,” says Jeff Kunberger, Executive Director of Suncoast Foundations. “These young people are the decision makers of our future, and we’re inspired by this United Way program that meets them where they are to ensure their potential is met.”
About United Way Suncoast
United Way Suncoast mobilizes communities to action for all. We give families and community members across our five-county footprint the “Freedom To Rise.” Founded in 1924, we enter our second century of service with a decided focus on uniting the region to generate support for hard-working families that stand one unexpected expense away from dire circumstance. We elevate early learning, energize middle school and high school youths and empower community members through financial security. We proudly serve Hillsborough, Pinellas, Manatee, Sarasota and DeSoto counties by investing in services and programs that help people create the lives they imagine for themselves. We enhance the community by addressing emerging needs such as natural disasters, and we expand the capacity of our nonprofits to help our impact ripple through the region. Along the way, we lead, convene and collaborate with corporate supporters, individual donors, nonprofit partners and valued volunteers because we know – United We Rise, United We Win.
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 $20.2 billion in assets. Chartered in 1934 as Hillsborough County Teachers Credit Union, Suncoast Credit Union currently operates 79 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 $61 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.