Suncoast Credit Union Foundation Provides $10,000 to Bay Area Legal Services

Bay Area Legal Services announces a charitable gift of $10,000 from the Suncoast Credit Union Foundation. The funds will be used to support FosterPower, an award-winning free app and website that provides Florida's foster youth access to easy, digestible information about their benefits, protections, and legal rights.

In 2024-2025, FosterPower will use its grant funds to provide training, education, and outreach to over 100 youth in foster care and adults (including child welfare professionals, judges, attorneys, foster parents, etc.) on children's legal rights while they remain in care. This initiative will help expand FosterPower’s digital reach by increasing app downloads, allowing both youth and adults to access much-needed information at their fingertips.

“We’re excited to partner with our new funder, Suncoast Credit Union Foundation, and we are grateful for their support to help provide a better future for the children in our community,” said Joan Boles, Bay Area Legal Services CEO/President.

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 $44 million. 

“At Suncoast, we are committed to empowering youth in our communities with the knowledge, resources and tools they need to thrive,” said Kourtney Berry, Executive Director, Suncoast Credit Union Foundation. “We are proud to support this meaningful initiative that simplifies access to vital information about benefits, protections, and legal rights for Florida's foster youth."

About Bay Area Legal Services
Bay Area Legal Services is a nonprofit law firm of skilled attorneys whose objective is helping the most vulnerable members of our community. Our clients do not have the income to hire private attorneys. Visit bals.org/help to learn more about our services.

About Suncoast Credit Union
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 $18.2 billion in assets. Chartered in 1934 as Hillsborough County Teachers Credit Union, Suncoast Credit Union currently operates 78 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 $44 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.