Baltimore County Public Schools (BCPS) has named First Financial Federal Credit Union (FFFCU) as the 2024-2025 BCPS Business Champion of the Year, an award granted to a Baltimore County business that has had a significant impact on BCPS staff and students by supporting system efforts to enhance student success.
As the credit union founded by BCPS educators, First Financial continuously looks for opportunities to support students, educators, and classrooms. First Financial was honored to accept the award at the 2024 Champions for Children Awards Celebration on April 18, 2024.
“As our founding partner, no organization speaks more to the heart of First Financial than Baltimore County Public Schools,” stated Eric Church, First Financial President/CEO. “It is truly a privilege to be recognized as a devoted partner and avid supporter of the BCPS community – a mission we have held true for over 70 years.”
To learn more about being a part of the First Financial difference, visit firstfinancial.org or call Member Services at 410-321-6060.
First Financial Federal Credit Union (FFFCU), a member-owned credit union that prioritizes giving back, concluded 2023 with over $35,000 in donations and support to several local community partners within the Baltimore, Carroll, Somerset, and Worcester County areas. Overall, First Financial donated over $300,000 to community partners and organizations throughout 2023.
Most recently, FFFCU joined WBAL Radio for their annual WBAL Kids Campaign live event in Baltimore County. The credit union was thrilled to present an $8,500 check to the campaign that benefits Baltimore youth with academic scholarships, summer programs, and grants to provide toys and basic needs for children and their families over the holiday season.
Additionally, First Financial donated $9,500 to purchase holiday hams, provided by Hahn’s of Westminster, to Carroll County Food Sunday (CCFS). Carroll County Food Sunday provides weekly nutritious grocery packages to over 550 families served between the Westminster, Eldersburg, and Taneytown locations.
To continue the holiday giveback, First Financial participated in the annual gift drive for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Carroll County (BGC). FFFCU employees adopted 26 children in the gift drive and donated $850 towards programs at the Clubs.
First Financial also donated $2,500 to each Families in Transition (FIT) programs at Worcester County Public Schools and Somerset County Public Schools. The FIT program provides homeless students with access to clothing, food, transportation assistance, and occasional temporary housing.
The Judy Centers that work in conjunction with the Somerset and Worcester County public school systems each received $2,500 from First Financial. The Judy Centers provide support to disadvantaged families with young children and connects them with local service providers for resources such as adult education, health screenings, engagement activities, parenting classes, etc.
In November, First Financial donated $10,000 to new partner, the Dr. Nancy Grasmick Leadership Institute. Funding was used to provide leadership programming and resources to Baltimore County Public School professionals.
To learn more about being a part of the First Financial difference, visit firstfinancial.org or call Member Services at 1-800-903-3328.
“Since 2018, Cindy has been an energetic, hardworking, very dedicated, and passionate board member and leader who supports the mission and values of the Foundation. As a visionary leader who is a trusted and respected advisor, Cindy will provide mission-driven leadership and strategic governance and will represent the Foundation as an Education Champion,” stated Debbie Phelps, Executive Director of the Education Foundation. “She has a huge heart for our students and educators in BCPS. It will be an honor to work alongside her, providing any support needed from myself and the headquarters staff.”
The Education Foundation of BCPS develops resources to serve the students, educators, and schools throughout the Baltimore County community, specifically through fundraising, advocacy, and programs. Jones previously served as a Board Member of the Education Foundation, Chair of the Foundation’s Exchangeree Advisory Council, and 1st Vice President of the Foundation.
“As a proud BCPS graduate and FFFCU team member, it is an honor to serve Baltimore County Public Schools in this capacity,” said Cindy Jones. “I am excited to be a part of the Foundation’s role in raising awareness and support to the success of students, educators, schools, and community within BCPS through the many initiatives, grants, and scholarship opportunities available.”
Jones has led First Financial’s youth outreach program for over 20 years. Her commitment to improving the financial literacy of high school students is evident as she oversees and manages several resources for youth within the credit union’s field of membership. This includes six student-run local high school branches, Money Talks classroom presentations, and an annual scholarship program that has awarded $2.2 million in scholarships to students over the past 25 years.
Outgoing Education Foundation President, Mick Rayburn, passes gavel to incoming Education Foundation President and First Financial Youth Outreach Manager, Cindy Jones, during Passing of the Gavel Ceremony.
In the 25th year of First Financial Federal Credit Union’s Scholarship Program, 53 graduating seniors were rewarded a total of $159,000 in scholarships for post-secondary institutions.
The annual Scholarship Program is open to graduating students who attend Baltimore, Carroll, Worcester, and Somerset County Public Schools as well as private schools within First Financial’s field of membership. Since 1998, scholarships totaling $2.3 million have been awarded to over 750 hardworking students.
“It is an absolute honor to assist the soon-to-be graduates in continuing their education,” said Eric Church, First Financial President/CEO. “We couldn’t be prouder of these scholars and wish them nothing but success as they take on the next chapter of their lives.”
To qualify, First Financial’s student members were required to submit an application, transcripts, references, and a written essay. Finalists were selected by the credit union’s volunteer-based Scholarship Committee. The students receiving a scholarship were recognized at the credit union’s 70th Annual Meeting on April 20, 2023.
First Financial Federal Credit Union scholarship winners were recognized at the credit unions 70th Annual Meeting on April 20, 2023. $159,000 was awarded to 53 high school students within the credit unions field of membership.
First Financial Federal Credit Union (FFFCU) Limitless Leaders jumped at the opportunity to be a part of the first ever in-person pilot of the JA Finance Park program on March 2 with students from Lansdowne Middle School. The JA Finance Park is Junior Achievement of Central Maryland’s program that allows middle and high school students to practice personal financial planning and career exploration.
During the volunteer opportunity, FFFCU Limitless Leaders helped Lansdowne Middle School students navigate an interactive budgeting simulation. The Limitless Leaders, First Financial’s young professionals group, served in storefronts that each represented major line items in a budget, such as housing, utilities, food, etc. Students were assigned a random ‘life situation’ with an education level, salary, and family scenario. The students visited each storefront where they were encouraged to make financial decisions within their assigned means.
“The JA Finance Park program is an opportunity for students to begin to imagine what their futures hold, and First Financial helped the program come to life,” said Diane Pearson, Manager of Volunteer Services at JA of Central Maryland. “Volunteers really are at the heart of what we do, and they offer our students insight, perspective, and leadership for an amazing day at our facility.”
First Financial’s Limitless Leaders, founded in 2022, are the credit union’s emerging professionals who participate in professional development activities, networking events, and volunteering opportunities.
“At First Financial, we know that volunteering, providing financial education, and giving back makes our community stronger,” stated Tim Brown, Limitless Leaders Chair. “We were thrilled to work with the Lansdowne Middle students and honored to be a part of this inaugural event at JA’s new Finance Park facility.”
First Financial’s Limitless Leaders pose in front of First Financial Federal Credit Union’s JA Finance Park storefront located in the Junior Achievement of Central Maryland building.
First Financial Federal Credit Union deepened its commitment to the Carroll County community by donating a total of $35,000 to benefit three Carroll County partner organizations.
The credit union recently pledged $100,000 over a 5-year period to the Carroll Community College Foundation. Beginning in 2023 through the 2027/2028 school year, First Financial will donate $20,000 each year to the Foundation. Proceeds will benefit their Athletic Program, New Start Program, and Student Emergency Assistance Fund. First Financial and Carroll Community College have partnered for the benefit of the Carroll County community for 25 years. This commitment will allow the organizations to continue their partnership for years to come.
First Financial also made a $10,000 donation to Carroll County Food Sunday (CCFS), a non-profit organization who has played a critical role serving the food-insecure population within Carroll County since 1982. Every week, CCFS distributes nutritionally balanced grocery packages that consist of meat, eggs, fruits, vegetables, bread, and milk to over 400 families in the Carroll County community. First Financial’s donation will help purchase food and resources to support their weekly distribution.
Additionally, FFFCU made a $5,000 donation to its partner of 32 years, Carroll County Public Schools (CCPS). The donation will go toward the Student Support Fund of CCPS and will give families in the community access to a variety of resources such as clothing, shoes, musical instruments, food, and clean bedding when it is needed the most.
“First Financial has been committed to the Carroll County community for over 30 years,” said Eric Church, President and CEO of First Financial. “These organizations have been successful in assisting those in need throughout Carroll County and partnering with them helps pave the way to an even stronger community that First Financial is honored to support and serve.”
September 16, 2021 (Sparks, MD) – To help prepare for a successful school year, First Financial Federal Credit Union pledged $1,000 to support educators, who often use personal funds to purchase needed classroom supplies. This financial assistance was given to fulfill the classroom wish lists of ten area educators through its “FFFCU Clears the List” campaign.
As an education-based credit union, First Financial rallied local support and gathered nominations of educators who go above and beyond from its members and the community. Nominations were accepted for educators within Baltimore County Public Schools, Carroll County Public Schools and private schools within the credit union’s field of membership.
By the conclusion of the campaign, First Financial had received more than 180 nominations, from which it selected 10 recipients. In honor of their outstanding contributions, each educator received $100 along with a certificate of recognition from First Financial. See First Financial’s Community Site for full list of recipients and to read their inspirational stories.
Cindy Jones, CEPF, First Financial Youth Outreach Manager was thrilled by the enthusiastic response from the credit union’s members who were eager to recognize outstanding teachers in the community. “We share our members’ deep admiration for hardworking educators. Our Clear the List campaign was our small way to honor and celebrate all that they do, going above and beyond for their students, schools and communities,” she said.
To learn more about First Financial and membership eligibility, visit firstfinancial.org or call Member Services at 410-321-6060, option 5.
(Lutherville, MD) – First Financial Federal Credit Union was recently selected by Junior Achievement (JA)as the winner of its Superstar Volunteer of the Year. The credit union, which was founded to serve the education community, is passionate about promoting financial literacy among youth – so working with Junior Achievement, the nation’s largest organization dedicated to helping youth gain financial skills, is a natural fit.
JA selected First Financial for its active involvement in the organization’s programs, specifically its JA Personal Finance Experience. These events provide students with financial situation simulations to instill in students the value of budgeting in the real world – and they require lots of hands-on help and volunteers, which First Financial is happy to provide. This school year, First Financial has led six JA Personal Finance Experience sessions, supplying anywhere from 10 to 20 volunteers for each and filling JA’s entire volunteer need for the program.
According to Junior Achievement, First Financial has “made a huge commitment to our students and schools across Baltimore and Carroll Counties. Their volunteers are providing teens with guidance and expertise on how to budget wisely. We are extremely grateful to the entire First Financial team for their commitment to our students and community, their passion for financial education and their warm demeanor with our students and educators.”
First Financial Youth Outreach Manager Cindy Jones in response to receiving the award stated, “We are truly honored to receive the Superstar Volunteer of the Year award and we are very appreciative of the partnership we have with JA. Most importantly, we are thankful for the opportunity to work with students to strengthen their financial skills and make a positive impact on their lives.”
How to Open
Already a member?
Great. It only takes a few minutes to open through online banking.
