PLYMOUTH, Minn. (Feb. 17, 2021) - The TruStone Financial Foundation recently donated a total of $100,000 to three non-profit organizations as part of its Racial Equity and Inclusivity Grant. The donations that made up this grant consisted of $42,500 each to The Sanneh Foundation and Bolder Options, and $15,000 to the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation.
The Sanneh Foundation empowers Twin Cities youth, primarily in low-income urban and immigrant populations, with educational support and programs that strengthen their physical, social and emotional health. The organization’s CEO, Tony Sanneh, thanked TruStone for doing their part to make Minnesota a more equitable and inclusive place. "We are extremely happy to welcome TruStone to be our partner in empowering youth, improving lives and uniting community,” he said.
Bolder Options coordinates youth mentorship programs for children and teens in the Twin Cities and Rochester areas. The organization is recognized as an Expert Partner in mentoring by Mentor Minnesota and the National Mentoring Partnership. Bolder Options’ president, Darrell Thompson, said, “TruStone Financial's generous gift to Bolder Options was a wonderful surprise at the end of a difficult year.”
The Astronaut Scholarship Foundation (ASF) provides more than 50 scholarships every year to third- and fourth-year college scholars in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). “ASF has committed to supporting the education of Minnesota and Wisconsin students of color who have demonstrated extraordinary skills in science and math and who will use their advanced learning for everyone’s betterment,” said Sam Stern, Chairman of the TruStone Financial Foundation’s board of directors. Caroline Schumacher, President/CEO of ASF, said, “We are extremely grateful to be selected as one of the grant recipients."
The Foundation selected these organizations for their demonstrated commitment to promoting racial equity and inclusivity. “We recognize our moral and financial obligation to provide opportunities for our members and neighbors to educate themselves and flourish in society,” said Stern.
About TruStone Financial
TruStone Financial is a full-service credit union that has worked to improve the financial well-being of its neighbors for more than 80 years. Having been founded as a teachers’ credit union, one of TruStone’s core values is education. It strives to teach its members healthy financial habits, and its mission is to offer simple, convenient tools and great rates to help them reach their goals. It has 23 branches across Minnesota and Wisconsin and is Minnesota’s second largest credit union, with assets of $3.6 billion as of Jan. 31, 2021. TruStone was named one of the 50 top-performing U.S. Credit Unions in 2019 by S&P Global Market Intelligence and a Best-In-State credit union by Forbes magazine in 2020. To learn more, visit TruStoneFinancial.org.
About the TruStone Financial Foundation
The TruStone Financial Foundation is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization founded in 2009 by TruStone Financial Credit Union. The TruStone Financial Foundation primarily supports financial education and programs through scholarships and outreach, while also engaging in general charitable giving in the communities served by the credit union. Learn more about the TruStone Financial Foundation at www.TruStoneFoundation.org.