Founded through the leadership and generosity of Leaders Credit Union, the Leaders Education Foundation has launched as a non-profit 501c3 organization that allows community-minded individuals, organizations, and other businesses to unite together to bring educational resources and opportunities to students of all ages in West Tenn.

“The Leaders Education Foundation has been a labor of love,” said Leigh Anne Bentley, Foundation President. “To see this last year’s effort to structure and develop an organization for the sole purpose of giving forward to the community and enhancing the lives of others already gives us a sense of pride and accomplishment.”

In support of the Foundation, Leaders Credit Union has donated an additional $10,000 to launch the Leaders Education Foundation Scholarship program (formerly under the Leaders Credit Union umbrella).
Six scholarships totaling $10,000 will be awarded to high school seniors who portray leadership in their school and community. Scholarship applicants must be graduating high school seniors in West Tenn. and the high school senior and/or a parent and/or a grandparent must be a member of the Leaders Education Foundation or a member in good standing of Leaders Credit Union. Applicants may be applying to a traditional four-year university, community college, the Tennessee College of Applied Technology, or other technical or vocational programs or schools. The scholarship money received may be used at the applicant’s discretion to help cover costs associated with education including tuition, books, fees, and various living costs. Applications must be submitted no later than April 15, 2020. The application may be downloaded by visiting leaderscu.org/partners/leaders-education-foundation.

“The scholarship program provides indispensable opportunities to students, affecting the trajectory of their entire future,” Eddie Hays, Leaders Education Foundation Chairman said. “We are honored to be a small part of these students’ academic journeys toward success.”

In addition to the scholarship program, Leaders Education Foundation will provide grant and scholarship opportunities as well as resources to support lifelong education and workforce development within our community.

Leaders Education Foundation memberships are available to individuals and sponsorship opportunities are offered to corporate partners. Charter Memberships or Charter Sponsorships, as applicable, are available until March 31, 2020, in which the organization or individual will have their commitment commemorated and listed in the records of the Foundation and be recognized at the first annual Foundation members meeting in April. An Individual Charter Membership is $510.00 ($10 membership fee + $500 donation). Corporate Charter Sponsorships range from Sustaining Corporate Charter Sponsor for a gift of $25,000 or more ($5,000 per year for five years) to a Partner Corporate Charter Sponsor for a gift of $2,500 ($500 per year for five years.) Additional Corporate Sponsor levels and pledge forms as well as Membership forms can be found at LeadersGives.org.

“I encourage everyone to be a part of this organization. By joining or sponsoring the Foundation, it allows community-minded citizens and businesses to partner and support our mission to ‘Make lives better, together.’” Bentley noted.

The Leaders Education Foundation has a volunteer Board of Directors consisting of Eddie Hays, Chairman; Ron Hill, Vice Chairman & Secretary; Karen Taylor, Treasurer; Stephanie Riley, Board Member; and Mary Lou Adams, Board Member. Additional officers elected include Leigh Anne Bentley to serve as President and Leigh O’Neill as Vice President of the Foundation.

To learn more about individual memberships and corporate sponsorships, please visit LeadersGives.org or the Foundation’s Facebook page.

About Leaders Education Foundation

Leaders Education Foundation is as a non-profit 501c3 organization based in Jackson, Tenn. Established in 2019, the Foundation allows community-minded citizens, members, and organizations to unite to makes lives better together. The Foundation invests back into the local community through scholarships, grants, and financial literacy resources to provide educational opportunities promoting workforce development, job enhancement, lifelong learning, and training for students, teachers, and our community. For more information about Leaders Education Foundation, please visit their website.

###