(Tampa, Florida) The Gus A. Stavros Center for Free Enterprise and Economic Education at the èAV (USF) College of Education announces a charitable gift of $10,000 from the Suncoast Credit Union Foundation in support of its Financial Literacy Workshop Series for teachers. This marks the fourth consecutive year that the Foundation has awarded funding to the Stavros Center, underscoring a shared commitment to advancing financial literacy education in Florida’s schools. The grant will fund a series of professional development workshops designed specifically for K–12 teachers, providing them with practical strategies and classroom-ready resources focused on financial topics such as budgeting, saving, credit management and long-term planning. By strengthening the financial literacy of educators, the program also aims to increase students’ exposure to essential life skills at an early age.
“We are incredibly grateful to the Suncoast Credit Union Foundation for its continued investment in financial literacy education and in the teachers who make that education possible,” said Peter Trakas, Ed.D., director of the Gus A. Stavros Center. “For the fourth consecutive year, Suncoast is helping us equip K–12 educators with the knowledge, resources and confidence to bring meaningful financial literacy lessons into their classrooms. When we invest in teachers, we ultimately invest in thousands of students who are developing the financial skills they will carry with them throughout their lives.”
Suncoast Credit Union, Florida’s largest credit union, founded the Suncoast Credit Union Foundation to promote the education, health and emotional well-being of children in the community. Each time a Suncoast member uses their debit or credit card, the credit union donates four cents to the Foundation to fund local initiatives. Since its inception in 1990, the Foundation has raised and donated over $63 million.
“Suncoast Credit Union was founded by educators more than 90 years ago and supporting those who shape the next generation remains at the heart of our mission,” said Jeff Kunberger, executive director of Suncoast Credit Union Foundations. “This donation helps equip teachers with the knowledge, tools and support they need to give students greater exposure to life skills that will benefit them for years to come.”
About The Gus A. Stavros Center for Free Enterprise and Economic Education
The Gus A. Stavros Center for Free Enterprise and Economic Education at USF’s College of Education, is dedicated to advancing the effective teaching and integration of free enterprise, financial literacy, and economic education within K–12 curricula. Serving educators throughout the Tampa Bay area, the Center provides comprehensive support through teacher training programs, curriculum development initiatives, and a variety of instructional resources. These efforts are designed to ensure that concepts of free enterprise and consumer economics are meaningfully incorporated into classrooms, equipping students with the knowledge and skills necessary for lifelong financial and economic understanding. For more information, visit usf.edu/Stavros
About Suncoast Credit Union
Suncoast Credit Union is the largest credit union in Florida, the seventh largest in the United States by membership and the 10th largest by assets, with $21.1 billion. Chartered in 1934 as Hillsborough County Teachers Credit Union, Suncoast operates 81 full-service branches and serves more than 1.4 million members statewide. As a community credit union, anyone who lives, works or attends school in Suncoast’s service area is eligible for membership. In 2021, Suncoast’s field of membership was expanded to include public K-12 teachers, college educators and educational support staff across all of Florida’s 67 counties. Suncoast is dedicated to supporting the communities it serves, guided by its “people helping people” philosophy. Since 1990, the Suncoast Credit Union Foundation has raised and donated more than $63 million to organizations and initiatives that support the health, education and emotional well-being of children. For more information, visit or follow us on social media: , , and