STCU Celebrates Highly Successful Season of Giving

Posted by Alyse Knudsen on January 26, 2026

Like a fully decorated tree occupying the living room well into the new year, STCU’s season of giving continued to lift spirits across the region when earlier this month the credit union presented $5,000 to Specialized Needs Recreation, a Coeur d’Alene non-profit that provides athletic and socialization opportunities for people with special needs.

The credit union has surpassed $600,000 in giving this season, which began with $350,000 donated to food security initiatives last fall. That total also reflects the generosity of employees, with more than $80,000 in grants awarded through STCU’s “Volunteers Count” program. In 2025, 469 credit union employees logged more than 13,000 volunteer hours at 441 organizations, earning a total of $83,268 in grants for the causes they care about. Additionally, 120 STCU employees serve in leadership positions on boards or committees.

Food security remains a critical concern for the region, and this season’s momentum was amplified by the STCU’s commitment to match contributions to its Here for Good Foundation to inspire additional support. BECU contributed $25,000 to the foundation, which STCU matched in full, and individuals and community partners stepped forward to help ensure local food banks received meaningful, timely relief.

“I can’t tell you what a lift [STCU’s donation] gave our staff,” said a representative of EWU’s Food Pantry. “Celebrating generosity and community care means so much. It is people-to-people connection and we love it!”

In recent months, STCU’s giving has also expanded to educational attainment, healthcare access, and economic development across the region.

A portion of STCU’s charitable giving over the holidays came from its official philanthropic arm, the STCU Here for Good Foundation, which in total gave more than $750,000 through 112 individual grants in 2025.

“Many in our community continue to feel some degree of economic uncertainty,” said Lindsey Myhre, STCU President and CEO. “They could be worried about cost of food, childcare, or feeling some anxiety about paying for college. We know our members are fully behind STCU’s support for organizations that work so hard for their friends and neighbors, and we are proud of the spirit of volunteerism exhibited by our employees every year.”

Recent gifts made by STCU and the Here for Good Foundation

$50,000 to TRIDEC.
$10,000 to the Camas Foundation.
$5,000 to LaunchPad INW.
$10,000 to 2nd Harvest Food Bank (matching grant with BECU).
$10,000 to Partners INW (matching grant with BECU).
$5,000 to Loon Lake Food Bank (matching grant with BECU).
$5,000 to Hermiston Senior Center Board of Directors
$5,000 to Bonner County Community Food Bank.
$5,000 to Grand Coulee Dam Care and Share Food Bank.
$5,000 to Community Services of Moses Lake (Moses Lake Food Bank).
$5,000 to Cheney Cupboard.
$5,000 to Communities in Schools of the Blue Mountain Region.
$5,000 to Columbia Ability Alliance.
$10,000 each to Washington State University, Eastern Washington University, and Whitworth University.
$5,000 to the Kadlec Foundation.
$5,000 to the Unique Center for Athletes of All Needs.
$5,000 to Specialized Needs Recreation.
$4,000 to Associated Industries Bright Promise Scholarship.
$10,000 to the Inland Northwest AGC Education Center.
$7,500 to Excelsior Wellness.
$5,000 to Made to Thrive (Umatilla Co., Ore.)
$2,500 to the Downtown College Place Association.
$5,000 to Families First Childcare Center (Morrow Co., Ore.).
$5,000 to Wallowa Resources.
$7,500 to the Wallowa Valley Health Care Foundation.
$5,000 to Building Healthy Families (Wallowa, Baker, and Union Co., Ore.).
$5,000 to Baker County YMCA (Ore.)