LANHAM, Md.–FedChoice Charitable Foundation, the foundation off FedChoice Federal Credit Union, brought several education and welfare initiatives to life in its local communities using funds from Vizo Financial Corporate Credit Union’s Empowerment Grants program, according to Vizo Financial.

The funds were awarded through The Credit Union Foundation  of MD|DC and provided $5,000 for the foundation’s “Positive Impact” Project, which included three key objectives: educational scholarships, small educators’ grants and community financial wellness, the organization said.

According to Vizo Financial, those included:

• A total of $2,000 in educational scholarships were granted to high school students to help pursue higher education and financial success. 
• Small educators’ grants in the amount of $500 were given through the Foundation’s Teachers’ Aid Program, which helps educators enhance classroom experiences and provide valuable learning opportunities for their students. 
• The community financial wellness efforts, totaling $2,500, were spread across multiple schools, including Cora L. Rice Elementary School, G. James Gholson Middle School and Oakland Elementary School, to provide hygiene supplies for students and snacks during testing periods, as well as Fairmont Heights High School for their Community Day event, where students handed out food supply and giveaway packages to low-income families, and provided school supplies to 25 students.

Looking for Ways to Reach Out

“At FedChoice Charitable Foundation, we’re always looking for ways to make our outreach initiatives possible, and this most generous grant has allowed us to enhance the quality of life and financial stability of young people and their families through tangible projects focused on education, health and community development,” Andrey Gidaspov, executive director for the FedChoice Charitable Foundation, said in a statement. “We are so grateful to The Credit Union Foundation of MD|DC and Vizo Financial for this incredible opportunity to make a difference in local underserved communities.”

About the Program

The Empowerment Grant program was created by Vizo Financial in 2023. Through the program, the Corporate allocates funds each year to credit union foundations within its footprint, including The Credit Union Foundation of MD|DC. The foundations then administer the grants to credit unions and credit union organizations that apply for funding based on proposed project goals and their potential impact. 

The Credit Union Foundation of MD|DC awarded the Empowerment Grant to the FedChoice Charitable Foundation in 2024, and the organization used the funds over the course of May through December 2024, Vizo reported.

“The Foundation’s participation in Vizo Financial’s Empowerment Grants program is essential to helping the credit unions we serve improve and celebrate our communities through financial wellness initiatives,” Leigh Philibosian, director of The Credit Union Foundation MD|DC, said in a statement. “By offering these grants, we’re confident that we can play a role in providing greater opportunities for credit unions to fulfill community involvement goals and continue promoting financial health and well-being for their members, just as we’ve seen with the FedChoice Charitable Foundation. We encourage credit unions within Maryland or the District of Columbia, and those affiliated with the Foundation, to gain inspiration from the FedChoice Charitable Foundation’s story and consider applying.”

‘Promising Influence’

“We’re thrilled to see the very real and promising influence of the Vizo Financial Empowerment Grants and how those dollars are being put to use to change lives, whether through scholarships or food and hygiene supplies,” said Erin Doan, VP of administration for Vizo Financial. “Our heartfelt congratulations go out to the FedChoice Charitable Foundation on the success of their Positive Impact Project and we want to send a special thanks to The Credit Union Foundation MD|DC for offering these grants that allow credit unions to put our people helping people philosophy and the cooperative spirit into action.”