Blue Jean Friday Fund | Texas Credit Union

Blue Jean Friday Community Donation Grants

At Education First FCU, we are passionate about giving back to our community. We turn workdays into opportunities to raise money for worthy organizations in our communities.

Every year, (3) $4,500 community grants are given to local non-profits.
Applications open on September 1st of each calendar year and close on October 31st.
Applicants must be classified as a 501(c)(3) organization.
You can view or download the complete grant guidelines.

Giving back to Local Organizations one Friday at a time.

Education First FCU established the Blue Jean Friday Fund in 2015 to support the work of non-profit organizations in the community. We are proud to say that our employees have donated over $71,500 to support local and national organizations to date.

In the past, our employees cast a vote to identify the recipients. However, as the program grew in popularity, we moved to a more comprehensive process to identify recipients of the funds. Now, donations are distributed via a grant program. This revamped structure includes an application process that enables 501(c)(3) organizations within our field of membership to apply for funding.

Each year, we are honored to learn more about the non-profits serving the less fortunate in our community. We encourage all qualifying non-profit organizations to apply.

Every Friday, employees can make a meaningful difference in their community by contributing cash donations to our Blue Jean Fridays Fund. Not only does this allow them to dress comfortably in denim, but it also enables us to support worthy organizations in our communities.

By participating in this initiative, our dedicated team members demonstrate their passion for giving back and commitment to making a positive impact.

Our application is available on our website from September 1 - October 31 each calendar year. Interested organizations must submit a completed application that includes the funding request, project description, expected outcomes, impact and more. Please review the application for complete details.

A volunteer committee of Education First FCU employees will review and grade grant applications based on a pre-determined scoring rubric. Awardees will be notified by mid-November, and checks will be presented to three organizations at a ceremony at the credit union's administration building on Giving Tuesday.

Past Donations

Boys' Haven - EFFCU Employees committed $4,500, to help develop a computer lab for the residents of the Journey House Transitional Independent Living program to assist with continuing education and increasing access to employment opportunities.
Hope Women's Resource Clinic - EFFCU Employees committed $4,500, to help replenish the Hope Clinic Blessings Boutique with much-needed cribs, play-yards, and car seats for clients who complete a course on safe sleep and car seat safety.
Southeast Texas Food Bank - EFFCU Employees committed $4,500, which will allow SETX Foodbank to provide a 20lb food box to 675 individuals facing food insecurity in Jefferson County. This translates to 13,500 meals for individuals in Southeast Texas who may otherwise face hunger and inadequate nutrition.

Crisis Center of SETX - EFFCU Employees committed $4,383 for new clothing and toiletries for victims of sexual assault when presenting at an area hospital.
Sleep in Heavenly Peace - EFFCU Employees committed $4,383 to SHP to help support the construction of beds for kids located in Southeast Texas.
Harvest House - EFFCU Employees committed $4,383, and helped advance their work to provide a space of hope, healing, and a new life program to participants.

Homer Drive Elementary—Employees committed $9,082.57 to support the construction of a new ADA-accessible playground for the elementary school.
The Shorkey Center - EFFCU committed $4,392.50 to help purchase needed supplies including: a water heater so families can shower before and after aquatic therapy, a new electric safety gate for the preschool playground, a new reception lobby desk and new lobby seating.

Some Other Place – Employees committed $4,213.89 to underwrite the Christmas meal and to purchase supplies to fill Christmas stockings for seniors in our community.
Family Services of Southeast Texas – Employees committed $2,000 to purchasing gifts to fill the Christmas store at the women’s shelter. This store is set up so that children have the opportunity to select gifts to give their mother on Christmas.
Ubi Caritas – Employees also gave $3,000 to Ubi Caritas to support their mission to provide diapers for new mothers and to provide diabetic test strips to newly diagnosed diabetics in our area.
Garth House – Employees adopted three families and dedicated $1,700 to purchase Christmas gifts for each child as well as $200 VISA gift cards for each family.

Education First Employees Impacted by Tropical Storm Imelda– Tropical Storm Imelda dropped a lot of water on Southeast Texas in 2019. The damage from this storm affected many, including our employees. The Blue Jean Fridays Fund went back to employees affected by Tropical Storm Imelda in 2019.

Cape Fear Elementary School, North Carolina– This school incurred extensive damage from Hurricane Matthew in 2016 and did not fully recover when Hurricane Florence hit the area in 2018. After seeing the massive damage incurred by Hurricane Florence, Education First Federal Credit Union (EFFCU) announced that their employee donation fund, typically directed to a local charity in Southeast Texas, would help a school in North Carolina. These funds helped to restore their outdoor classroom.
Family Services of Southeast Texas - Employees committed funds to purchasing gifts to fill the Christmas store at the women’s shelter. This store is set up so that children have the opportunity to select gifts to give their mother on Christmas.

Education First Employees Impacted by Hurricane Harvey—In 2017, Hurricane Harvey affected many homes in Southeast Texas, including those of our own employees. The Blue Jean Fridays Fund went back to employees affected by Hurricane Harvey in 2017.

Southeast Texas Foodbank—Employees contributed $4,700 to the Southeast Texas Foodbank to help with its mission to feed those in need in Southeast Texas.