BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — AmFirst Credit Union has named the four new charitable organizations across Central Alabama that will become beneficiaries of the credit union’s Community First Initiative.
AmFirst said it will support the efforts of Garrett’s Place, The WellHouse, Better Basics and United Way Priority Veteran in 2025, continuing a now 11-year-old tradition of resourcing local change agents with Community First funding.
- Garrett’s Place serves foster children and the families who care for them by providing for basic needs, connection and support. Garrett’s Place provides suitcases, clothes, books, toys, school supplies and other items to children entering the foster system.
- The WellHouse seeks to rescue and provide opportunities for restoration to victims of human trafficking who have been sexually exploited. The Wellhouse also educates the public on the exploitation of the vulnerable.
- Better Basics works to eradicate illiteracy among children in Central Alabama. Better Basics delivers reading and math instruction and resources to empower the educationally vulnerable.
- United Way Priority Veteran has helped more than 4,000 veterans and their families find housing. This is an assistance program focused on serving veterans who are homeless or at immediate risk of becoming homeless.
Diverse Collection
“These groups represent a diverse collection of missions, each critical in their own way to our neighbors here in Central Alabama,” Kevin Morris, AmFirst president & CEO, said in a statement. “Our entire staff nominates and votes on these recipients each year; we take a lot of joy in the process and satisfaction in knowing these gifts will effect real change.”
2024’s cohort of Community First recipients received gifts totaling $160,000 to work for impressionable and vulnerable communities in Alabama. AmFirst said it has donated more than $1.2 million to local nonprofits and organizations since 2014 through the Community First Initiative.
“Looking at the cross-section of people who will be served by Community First this year—children in the foster system, trafficking survivors, young readers and veterans—I think it’s remarkable how big this impact has grown,” Morris added.