iQ Credit Union Launches Three-Year Grant Program for Local Nonprofits, Names First Recipients

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May 17, 2022, 08:57 ET

Awards of $1,500 Per Year Support Multiyear Planning Efforts

VANCOUVER, Wash., May 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- iQ Credit Union (iQ), a member-owned, modern-day financial institution based in the Pacific Northwest, today announced the inaugural recipients of its iQ for Kids three-year grants: Rocksolid Community Teen Center, Assistance League Southwest Washington and YWCA Clark County. The iQ for Kids Foundation has supported not-for-profit organizations that directly impact kids' lives in Southwest Washington and Oregon since the early 1990s, but this is the first time the foundation has awarded multiyear grants.

The grant recipients are all local organizations that iQ for Kids has supported for years. The multiyear program is designed to provide additional financial stability while reducing organizations' need to spend time reapplying for donations.

"iQ is growing, and so are the needs in our communities," Trista Carbajal, executive assistant and administrator of iQ for Kids, said. "We saw an opportunity to support organizations for multiple years, allowing those programs to count on the funds and make a larger impact by potentially reaching more kids in the community."

Rocksolid, an organization dedicated to providing safe, fun and engaging after-school activities for fifth through 12th grade students, will use the grant to support the fall 2023 Teen Takeover program as well as provide transportation from schools to the nonprofit's teen center throughout the year.

The Assistance League grant will support multiple initiatives spearheaded by the nonprofit, including assault survivor kits, school clothes for children in foster care, and Operation School Bell, which provides new clothing and literacy supplies to children in need in 25 area schools.

Finally, YWCA Clark County is putting the grant money toward their Y's Care children's program, which provides high-quality preschool education to children and families from homeless, transitioning or low-income circumstances.

"The iQ three-year grant program lets us do more long-term planning because we know that we can count on those funds for multiple years," Marcy Sprecher, executive director of Rocksolid Teen Center, said. "This money will support services that are vital to so many local children."

Going forward, iQ will award three-year grants annually to one to three organizations, with applications opening on Jan. 1.

In addition to the multiyear program, iQ for Kids awarded more than $19,000 in one-time grants to these 13 local nonprofits in Q1:

Steps for Youth
Columbia River High School
TreeSong Nature Awareness and Retreat Center
Battle Ground Kiwanis Club
Cascadia Behavioral Healthcare
The Family Room
Playworks Education Energized
Merry Heart Children's Camp
Mpowered Living Ministries
FIRST Robotics Team 2471
Dialed Cycling and Triathlon Team
Friendly House
Soccer in the Park

One-time grants are awarded on a quarterly basis, with the iQ for Kids Committee meeting in February, May, August and November to make funding decisions. Since its beginning, iQ for Kids has made more than $3 million in donations to local charities focused on improving children's lives. The foundation is funded with donations received from iQ employees. Find more information about iQ for Kids here.

ABOUT iQ CREDIT UNION
iQ Credit Union is a full-service financial institution serving the Pacific Northwest since 1940. With more than 97,000 members in Washington and Oregon, the credit union is known for its deep commitment to financial education and community engagement — and for its signature red and black buffalo plaid colors. iQ helps WAnderers and explORers reach their financial goals by offering honest and friendly advice at any of its 15 branches. More information is available at iQCU.com.

SOURCE iQ Credit Union