BIRMINGHAM, AL—AmFirst announced the conclusion of its inaugural “Clear the List for Classrooms” back-to-school campaign, awarding a total of $5,000 to 23 K-12 teachers across Alabama.
The campaign, which drew over 300 submissions from local educators, was designed to help teachers purchase essential classroom supplies and ease the financial burden many of them shoulder each year.
The campaign culminated in the selection of three Grand Prize winners, each receiving $1,000 to clear their Amazon Wish Lists and build the classroom of their dreams. The 2026 Grand Prize winners are:
- Lynleigh Gant, a First-Grade Special Education Teacher in Jasper City Schools
- Joshua Dollar, an Agriscience High School Teacher in St. Clair County Schools
- Quenette Mason, a Kindergarten Teacher in Birmingham City Schools
“We know that teachers are the heart of our communities, yet they often dip into their own pockets for their classrooms,” said Jody Mattson, AmFirst’s Director of Philanthropy and Community Engagement. “Our ‘Clear the List’ campaign was created to ease that burden and express our deep appreciation for their dedication. Seeing the incredible response from educators and the community was deeply rewarding.”
In addition to the three grand prizes, AmFirst also randomly selected 20 teachers to receive a $100 contribution toward their Amazon Wish Lists, bringing the total direct support to $5,000.
“I’m sincerely grateful!” said Quenette Mason, one of the grand prize winners. “This financial gift will extensively support my students in all facets of their learning.”
The initiative also aimed to create a ripple effect of support that extends beyond the donations. AmFirst is encouraging the public to continue supporting local classrooms by purchasing items from the wish lists of teachers who were not selected. A full list of participating teachers’ wish lists is available at http://www.amfirst.org/why/clear-the-list-for-classrooms-2026/.
AmFirst congratulates all winners and thanks the teachers for their participation. This initiative is just one part of their enduring commitment to investing in education and strengthening the communities they serve.
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About AmFirst: Established in 1936 by members of Birmingham’s steel industry, AmFirst is a federally chartered community credit union serving more than 200,000 members across 22 locations in 13 Alabama counties, with over $2.7 billion in assets. Recognized as one of the nation’s strongest credit unions, AmFirst provides affordable and innovative financial services while building meaningful relationships within the communities it serves. AmFirst has been named one of Forbes and Newsweek’s best credit unions for multiple years. The credit union ranks as the #1 credit union in Alabama by F&I Tools USA, based on Best APR, and has earned local awards for Best Credit Union and Best Financial Advising Group. For more information about AmFirst, visit www.amfirst.org.
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