SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union Gifts $200K to Support CEIS Programs
A $200,000 gift from SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union, the largest credit union in California and the largest serving school employees and their families, will support future educators and researchers on their path to shape young minds.
The credit union, long a community partner to Cal Poly Pomona, has pledged the funds for the College of Education and Integrative Studies’ new Afrofuturism Initiative and the established Partners in Education (PIE), which supports the Sponsor a Future Teacher fellowship program.
The bulk of the gift, $170,000, will go to the Afrofuturism Initiative, a program CEIS created in 2024 in response to a CSU-wide call to action for all 23 campuses to advance Black student success and elevate Black excellence, inspired by the college’s mission, vision and values, as well as CPP’s FuturePaths efforts. PIE, a program that provides fellowships of up to $5,000 to support prospective teachers during their clinical practice experience, will receive $20,000 — funding for two fellowships in 2025 and two in 2026. The remainder, $10,000, covers the gift fee.
“SchoolsFirst FCU’s commitment aligns with the college’s mission to prepare culturally competent and future-ready educators and professionals. This collaboration ensures that students will be equipped with strong skills for teaching and creating a positive learning environment and a deep understanding of diverse educational perspectives,” said CEIS Dean Jenelle Pitt-Parker. “This investment underscores the importance of community and corporate partnerships in shaping the future of education and integrative studies. SchoolsFirst FCU’s generosity is not just a financial contribution. It is a strategic investment in empowerment, innovation and advancing equity in education and beyond.”
While the Afrofuturism Initiative is open and available to all students at CPP — regardless of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin — pursuing undergraduate, post-baccalaureate, master’s and doctoral degrees from various disciplines, SchoolsFirst’s deepening partnership with CEIS, specifically, marks a crucial investment in the future of education and integrative studies as a bridge to inclusive learning, Pitt-Parker said.
Josh Smith, vice president, school and community relations at SchoolsFirst FCU, said the hope is to make an impact on both individual lives and on the community.
“SchoolsFirst FCU’s support of PIE since 2020 and other CPP programs, including the new Afrofuturism Initiative, positively impacts the lives of those pursuing a career in education,” said Smith. “CPP has a global reach but also a direct impact on the local communities we serve. Our support helps the college. and its leaders make the path to becoming an educator better for many and benefits the community as a whole.”
Since its founding in 2006, PIE has provided fellowships to more than 285 future teachers.
Sue Johnson (’79, liberal studies), superintendent of the Savanna School District and the PIE board chairperson, praised SchoolsFirst FCU for its generous investment in the next generation of teachers.
“Their remarkable investment in future teachers not only empowers our fellowship recipients to continue their education and complete credential programs but also brings them one step closer to realizing their dream of becoming teachers,” Johnson said. “We may never know how many lives will be impacted with these fellowship awards, but for those recipients and the children they will teach, their lives will be forever changed.”
For Marlon Rojas (’16, liberal studies), a fifth-grade teacher in the Fontana Unified School District, the fellowship helped to alleviate some of his financial burdens while he was doing his student teaching.
“Receiving the scholarship was truly significant to me,” Rojas said in a testimonial about the program. “I recall a time during the credential program when I grew concerned about my financial need during clinical practice. With the assistance of this fellowship, I was able to focus purely on mastering the learning strategies I needed to meet the unique needs of my students.”
This recent gift is just one example of the many ways that SchoolsFirst FCU has partnered with Cal Poly Pomona.
The credit union, which has a branch at the campus bookstore, donated to the university’s recent effort to support victims of the wildfires in Los Angeles County. The organization has provided financial literacy education for participants in the Bronco Scholars Program and is supporting the upcoming Hospitality Uncorked event, which benefits The Collins College of Hospitality Management. SchoolsFirst FCU Senior Vice President for Community and Membership Development Kristin Crellin serves on the Cal Poly Pomona Philanthropic Foundation board of directors.
CEIS encourages community members, alumni and additional corporate partners to join SchoolsFirst in partnering with the college on transformative programs and initiatives. Contact ceis@cpp.edu to learn more about the Afrofuturism Initiative and PIE.