BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — AmFirst awarded 14 grants, totaling more than $60,000, to organizations across Alabama at a Grants Reception on December 4, 2025. The grants, ranging from $2,500 to $7,500, are part of the credit union’s corporate giving.
“At AmFirst, our commitment to the community is at the heart of everything we do,” said Kevin Morris, President and CEO of AmFirst. “The ‘people helping people’ philosophy is not just a slogan; it’s our guiding principle. This grant program allows us to deepen our impact and support the outstanding work these organizations are doing. We are honored to invest in their missions and contribute to a brighter future for our members and neighbors.”
AmFirst sought to expand their robust community endeavors with the creation of the grant program, allowing an employee-led committee to award grants to a wider array of organizations than existing historical community engagement projects. 2025 marks the second year of the grants program. In the future, AmFirst plans to expand the application process to allow more organizations the opportunity to apply.
“As a committee, we were inspired by the dedication and passion we saw in every application,” said Jody Mattson, AmFirst’s Director of Philanthropy and Community Engagement. “It was a privilege to learn more about the critical services these organizations provide across Alabama. This year has set a powerful precedent, and we are excited to see the direct impact these funds will have on these organizations. We look forward to growing this program and continuing to empower the local heroes who work tirelessly in our communities.”
Through the grant process, organizations detailed how they planned to use the award. The 2025 grant recipients and their initiatives are:
• Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama (HICA): $7,500 for its Education and Career Pathways (ECP) program.
• Blanket Fort Hope: $5,000 for its Nutritional Health Program.
• Bundles of Hope Diaper Bank: $5,000 for its Walk-in Wednesday program.
• Hoover Public Library: $5,000 for its Summer Feeding Program.
• Ronald McDonald House Charities of Mobile: $5,000 for the Taste of Hope Family Meals program.
• Shelby Emergency Assistance: $5,000 for its Utility Assistance Program.
• Smile-A-Mile: $5,000 for general programming.
• The Link of Cullman County: $5,000 for its Onward Workforce program.
• Three Hots and a Cot: $5,000 for a mattress refresh at its Veteran Center.
• Butterfly Bridge Children’s Advocacy Center: $2,500 for “Restore” pillar programming..
• Christian Love Pantry: $2,500 for Holiday Food Distributions.
• College Choice Foundation: $2,500 for its Bateman Scholars Program.
• The Power of Life Foundation:$2,500 for community-based programs.
• United Ability: $2,500 for its Pre-Apprentice Training Initiative (PATI) program.
###
About AmFirst
Founded in 1936, AmFirst is a federally chartered community credit union serving more than 200,000 members across 21 locations in 13 Alabama counties. Known as one of the nation’s strongest credit unions, AmFirst is dedicated to delivering affordable, innovative financial services while building meaningful relationships within the communities it serves. For more information about AmFirst’s community initiatives, visit www.amfirst.org.
Leave a Reply