There’s something about a fresh box of crayons and a new backpack that just hits different when you’re a kid.
That feeling of possibility, of being ready to tackle whatever the school year throws at you. But not every family can make that happen—which is exactly why California Credit Union just stepped up in a big way.
Thanks to their members, employees, and community partners, hundreds of local students are heading back to school this fall with everything they need to succeed. The credit union recently dropped off a serious haul of backpacks, fully-stocked supply pouches, and thousands of classroom essentials to the Southeast-Rio Vista YMCA. This delivery is all part of NBC4 and Telemundo 52’s annual Supporting Our Schools / Apoyando a Nuestras Escuelas campaign.
Here’s how it worked: California Credit Union ran a month-long school supply drive at their branches across Los Angeles and Orange counties. Community members donated throughout the campaign, and now those supplies are going directly to students and families who need them most—courtesy of the Southeast-Rio Vista YMCA’s distribution network.
“Starting the school year with the right supplies can make a meaningful difference for students and their families,” said California Credit Union President and CEO Steve O’Connell. “We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who donated and helped make this year’s drive a success. Together with NBC4, Telemundo 52 and the YMCA, we’re helping local students begin the school year ready to learn and thrive.”
This isn’t a one-off feel-good story, either. The annual school supply drive is a core part of how California Credit Union supports education in the communities they serve. This year marks the fourth year of their partnership with NBC4 and Telemundo 52, and together they’ve helped thousands of students across Southern California get what they need to start strong.
The Supporting Our Schools / Apoyando a Nuestras Escuelas campaign does double duty: it gets essential supplies into the hands of students while also supporting youth programming at the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles. For California Credit Union, it’s about removing barriers that keep kids from showing up ready to learn—because every student deserves that confident first day of school feeling, brand new pencils and all.