Tampa, Fla. – Children’s Network of Hillsborough (CNHC) has received a $11,500 grant from the Suncoast Credit Foundation to provide tutoring and laptops to foster youth.

The tutoring will assist 20 Hillsborough County youth in foster care who are 2-3 semesters behind in their educational development, as well as provide SAT/ACT preparation support for foster teens seeking higher education. Participating students will receive up to 12 tutoring sessions funded by the Suncoast grant. Additionally, the grant will provide 4-5 laptops to help teens in need achieve their educational goals.

“Children’s Network of Hillsborough strives to empower teens in foster care to achieve success in high school and beyond,” said Kimberly Williams, Chief Operating Officer of CNHC. “We are deeply grateful to the Suncoast Credit Union Foundation for partnering with us to make a lasting difference for Hillsborough County youth.”

The grant funds address a need for educational support often seen in foster youth. Research has shown that trauma from family and parental separation, along with increased school changes, can cause foster children to fall a semester or more behind their peers.

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 two cents to the Foundation to fund local initiatives. Since its inception in 1990, the Foundation has raised and donated over $45 million.

“At Suncoast Credit Union, we believe that every child deserves the opportunity to succeed, regardless of their circumstances,” said Bob Hyde, Vice President of Community Impact, Suncoast Credit Union. “Education is a powerful tool for change, and by providing foster youth with tutoring support and essential technology, we hope to bridge learning gaps and empower them to reach their full potential.”

About Children’s Network of Hillsborough

Children’s Network of Hillsborough (CNHC) is the nonprofit lead agency selected by the state of Florida to administer the child welfare system in Hillsborough County. Since beginning service on July 1, 2022, CNHC has emerged as one of the state’s top lead agencies for adoptions, reducing the number of children in out-of-home care, facilitating family reunifications and more. For more information, contact Kimberly Williams, CNHC Chief Operating Officer at 656-400-2683 or kimwilliams@cnhc.org.

About Children’s Network of Hillsborough

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 $18.4 billion in assets. Chartered in 1934 as Hillsborough County Teachers Credit Union, Suncoast Credit Union currently operates 81 full-service branches and serves more than 1.2 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 $45 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.