Community First Cares Foundation organized

Mary Cay Brock, St Johns Branch manager of Community First Credit Union in St Augustine, notified Historic City News of the organization of the “Community First Cares Foundation” — the only non-profit foundation administered by a credit union in the region.

The charitable foundation will fund grants to other non-profit organizations for “high impact” projects that improve financial literacy, education systems, health and wellness, and fill other underserved needs.

“We’ve always been committed to improving the quality of life for our members,” Brock told Historic City News editor Michael Gold this morning. “The Community First Cares Foundation will allow us to hold fundraisers, funding drives, or other events, to increase that positive impact on a broader segment of our community.”

Gold, who has been a member of the organization since it was known as the St Johns County Teachers Credit Union, and other members, have been asked to recommend non-profit projects that should be supported. “In 2004, the local Teachers Credit Union merged with Educational Community Credit Union in Jacksonville,” Gold recalled. “The operation was renamed Community First Credit Union in April 2005.”

Cay explained that the Foundation has its eye on non-profit projects and organizations, not only in St Johns County, but throughout the credit union’s seven county service area, which includes; Baker, Clay, Duval, Flagler, Nassau, and Putnam counties.

“In addition to organizing and solidifying our own charitable donations, the foundation can make our community grow even stronger,” Cay said. “Donation requests can be made online any time of year at www.CommunityFirstCares.org.”