Funds will provide direct financial assistance and financial literacy education to 100 Corpsmembers
Mission Fed Credit Union, the largest member-owned, not-for-profit, full-service financial institution exclusively serving San Diego County, received $25,000 in grant funding from the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco’s 2022 Access to Housing and Economic Assistance for Development (AHEAD) Program. Locally, the grant was awarded to The Urban Corps of San Diego County (Urban Corps) to provide direct financial assistance to its Corpsmembers.
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Mission Fed
The AHEAD Program enables FHLBank San Francisco members, like Mission Fed, to give a critical boost to local programs and projects that target pressing community needs. The grants help create a brighter, more equitable future for underserved people, neighborhoods and communities.
Urban Corps is a certified local conservation corps whose mission is to provide young adults with the tools to expand their career opportunities through education, life skills training and paid work experience. The organization offers a work-learn program that allows Corpsmembers the opportunity to learn real-world job skills that enables them to give back to the community while earning their high school diploma and receiving a paycheck. Urban Corps also provides additional support services to its Corpsmembers related to childcare, housing and transportation. The AHEAD grant will fund direct financial assistance to Corpsmembers using these services allowing them to successfully complete the program.
“Many of our Corpsmembers have challenges in their lives that have prevented them from earning their high school diploma. Urban Corps provides them with a second chance for their diploma while giving them paid job training that encourages civic engagement, responsibility and self-sufficiency — these are game changing opportunities for young people in our community,” said Kyle Kennedy, CEO of Urban Corps. “We thank and applaud Mission Fed and FHLBank San Francisco for helping us provide these critical funds to our Corpsmembers.”
Urban Corps estimates that approximately 100 Corpsmembers will be served with this financial support. For more about the program or how to become a Corpsmember, visit www.urbancorpssd.org.
As part of the grant, Mission Fed will provide ongoing one-on-one financial education and counseling for Corpsmembers who utilize this funding to support their ongoing financial success.
“Urban Corps has given thousands of underserved, low-income young adults the opportunity to improve themselves while improving their own communities,” said Doug Wright, Chief Financial Officer at Mission Fed. “Mission Fed is honored to help support Urban Corps and provide critical financial literacy expertise to build resiliency throughout our most under-resourced communities. We’re grateful to FHLBank San Francisco’s partnership and the AHEAD grants they provide to our region.”
FHLBank San Francisco is a member-driven cooperative helping local lenders in Arizona, California, and Nevada build strong communities, create opportunity, and change lives for the better. This last year, FHLBank San Francisco awarded $1.5 million in grants to 55 projects that will boost economic development activity and promote financial stability in communities throughout Arizona, California and Nevada.
About the Urban Corps of San Diego County -Founded in 1989, Urban Corps of San Diego County is a certified local conservation corps and charter school whose mission is to provide young adults aged 18-26 the tools to expand their career opportunities through paid job training, support services and if needed, a second chance to earn a high school diploma. For more information or to join Urban Corps, visit urbancorpssd.org
About Mission Fed Credit Union —Mission Federal Credit Union (Mission Fed) is the largest member-owned, not-for-profit, full-service financial institution exclusively serving San Diego County. Mission Fed enhances the lives of its members through financial education and services, providing stability and strength to help San Diegans with financial wellness and success. Banking at Mission Fed means doing good for San Diego. Mission Fed gives money back to our local communities, has helped hundreds of nonprofits and important causes, and builds deep relationships with community partners.
Mission Fed has served the financial needs of San Diegans for over 60 years through checking, savings, loans, credit cards, and other financial offerings. Mission Fed has more than $5.0 billion in assets, 280,000 members, 34 convenient local branches, 30,000 fee-free CO-OP ATMs nationwide and free mobile and online banking services. The credit union was named a Top Workplaces USA winner in 2021 and placed in the top five California credit unions on Forbes’ Best-In-State Credit Unions list in 2022. Mission Fed is also the first San Diego-based credit union to receive the “Juntos Avanzamos” designation, honoring its commitment to serving and empowering Hispanic/Latinx consumers. Federally insured by NCUA and Equal Housing Lender. To learn more, visit www.MissionFed.com.
About FHLBank San Francisco -FHLBank San Francisco is a member-driven cooperative helping local lenders in Arizona, California, and Nevada strengthen communities, create opportunity, and change lives for the better. The tools and resources we provide to our member financial institutions promote homeownership, expand access to quality housing, and boost economic development. AHEAD grants are awarded annually and delivered through the Bank’s member financial institutions to local community organizations for projects and programs that benefit lower-income and underserved communities.
