Just before winter break, the Maps Community Foundation brightened classrooms throughout the Mid-Willamette Valley with a generous show of support. As part of its annual Teacher Grant program, the foundation awarded $50,000 in funding to 50 dedicated educators in Marion and Polk counties (plus schools in Wilsonville). Each teacher received a $1,000 grant to bring creative ideas and much-needed resources to life—many of which go beyond what school budgets can typically provide.
Surprise Moments and Heartfelt Gratitude
Between December 11 and 15, Maps representatives and local branch managers made surprise visits to classrooms, presenting oversized checks and heartfelt congratulations to stunned and emotional recipients.
One memorable visit took place at South Salem High School, where teacher Alexis Mendez was awarded a $1,000 grant to support the school’s Newcomer Program. This program serves approximately 50 recently arrived students from countries such as Ukraine, Afghanistan, and Russia. The grant will help purchase books, translation tools, and classroom supplies to ease these students’ transition and empower them in their new learning environment.
“It’s a really big deal,” Mendez shared with the Salem Reporter. “To open a program, to get a program off the ground, it’s more resources than I thought it would be”.
Empowering Student Creativity and Career Paths
The impact of this year’s grants reaches across a variety of subjects, blending culture, the arts, career exploration, and financial literacy. Other grants were awarded in the following areas:
- Cultural Arts: At Waldo Middle School, Gabriela Acevedo-Solis will use her grant to provide authentic cultural attire for Ballet Folklórico performers.
- Music Education: At Early College High School, Adam Williams secured funds to launch a new school jazz band with a drum kit, sheet music, and stands.
- Financial Literacy: At Hayesville Elementary, Emma Marquez will purchase a popcorn machine. It won’t be for snacks, but instead it will build the foundation of a student-run business where fifth-graders will learn skills in sales, marketing, and fundraising.
…and more!
Continuing a Legacy of Local Support
These grants are made possible through the Maps Community Foundation, the charitable arm of Maps Credit Union. Funding comes from their “penny per swipe” initiative, where every debit card transaction helps build a pool of resources for local causes. This model of giving adds up quickly! It also reflects Maps’ continued commitment to education, which is a value rooted in its origins as a teacher-founded credit union in 1935.
Each of these projects is an investment in students, classrooms, and the future of our communities in Marion and Polk counties.
Giving Back
Thanks to the Maps Community Foundation’s Teacher Grant program, dozens of educators across the Mid-Willamette Valley are turning inspired ideas into meaningful classroom experiences. It’s a powerful reminder that these gestures of support can spark big change for local schools.
Sources for Further Information:
- Teacher grants support 50 school projects, from jazz band to field trips (Salem Reporter)
- Teacher Grants (Maps Credit Union)