A+ Education Foundation, a philanthropic arm of A+ Federal Credit Union announced the winners of the Foundation’s 2009 Educator Grant Program. 2009 not only marks a milestone anniversary for A+ Federal Credit Union, 60 years, it is also a monumental year for grants awarded — more than $60,000 to 66 recipients.

These funds cover the cost of programs and training to improve the classroom experience for students in Central Texas. This year’s 66 winning submissions included projects such as a robotics lab, paper recycling program, technology bilingual program, and a program for student to teach their peers through podcast lessons.
Two Lake Travis Independent School District teachers — Sharmae Erickson of Serene Hills Elementary and Mary Senn of Lake Travis Elementary — are among the teachers earning grants,
“We are honored to be able to fund the innovative projects that educators have designed to improve the classroom for their students,” said Kerry A.S. Parker, President of the Foundation. “We continue to see more and more demand for our grant program as other funds for these creative programs become scarcer in this economy. A+ Federal Credit Union was founded by teachers and we remain committed to giving back to the educational community through our grant program.”
The Foundation also continues to offer an Honorary Grant Program in which grants are awarded, in a name designated by contributors, in the amount of $1,000. This year’s recipient of The Kate Loftis Memorial Education Grant, awarded on behalf of Dennis and Cindy Loftis, is Caron M. Sharp from O Henry Middle School in Austin ISD. Her grant program is entitled A Bellyful of Memories: Using Memories, Recipes, and Pictures to Create a Class Cookbook. Kate Loftis who was born Jan. 31, 1900 was a life-long teacher who obtained her teaching certificate from what is now Texas State University. At age 20, she began teaching in schools around Travis County until her retirement in 1945. She then began teaching veterans returning from World War II and continued teaching until her mid 90’s, travelling from her care facility to a local elementary school to teach reading.
A+ Education Foundation — A+ Education Foundation was established and developed by A+ Federal Credit Union in 2005 to provide grants to full-time PreK-12 educators in reaching their educational goals. Since its inception, the Foundation has given over $180,000 in grants. These grants help fund programs and training for educators in the communities served by A+ Federal Credit Union. For more information or to find out how to support teachers in your area, click on the A+ Education Foundation link at www.aplusfcu.org/grants.
A+ Federal Credit Union has 11 Austin area locations, including one in Bee Cave, with more than $700 million in assets, and over 84,000 members that include not only educators, students, and their families, but other members of the community as well.