'Bridging the Equity Gap in Education' drives Redwood Credit Union's Support of SchoolsRule

Redwood Credit Union (RCU) supports SchoolsRule Sonoma County because it is committed to improving education for all students in the local community.

Founded in 1950, RCU is a full-service, not-for-profit financial institution providing personal and business banking to consumers and businesses in the North Bay and San Francisco. With a mission to passionately serve the best interests of its members, employees, and communities, RCU delivers many ways for people to save and build money through checking and savings accounts, auto and home loans, credit cards, and more. 

RCU contributes to SchoolsRule by donating a portion of every Visa credit card transaction made by its Sonoma County members. This partnership helps ensure that students in Sonoma County have more equitable access to the resources and opportunities they need to succeed, as the initiative works with public school districts and education foundations to target funding in areas such as literacy, student well-being, agriculture, hospitality, and STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math).

“Redwood Credit Union is deeply committed to bridging the equity gap in education, a mission we share with SchoolsRule Sonoma County," RCU President and CEO Brett Martinez said. "Our partnership with SchoolsRule, as a single provider of essential educational support for all Sonoma County communities, allows us to have the greatest impact so every student has the best possible chance to succeed.”

RCU's support of the communities they serve doesn't stop with SchoolsRule. RCU believes in the positive impact of investing in their local communities through the contribution of time, energy, money, and leadership support to nonprofit organizations and groups that move the needle. In that spirit, RCU is committed to giving back through volunteering, sponsorships, fundraising support, and leadership. 

An important piece of that commitment is the Redwood Credit Union Community Fund, a nonprofit RCU established in 2015. The fund helps empower local communities through financial education, disaster relief, housing, and community wellness initiatives, with 100% of donations going directly to the community, free of any overhead costs. 

RCU’s team-focused culture and commitment to social responsibility is also ingrained in its day-to-day work. Among the ways RCU promotes financial wellness is through the Bite of Reality program, a workshop designed to immerse students in real-life personal finance management. The program helps equip young people with the knowledge and tools they need to thrive financially, setting them up for success in the future. 

Overall, the credit union participated in more than 250 events and partnered with 66 nonprofits last year, with a total value of giving of over $4.9 million.

Want to know how RCU can help you directly? Wealth management and investment services are available through Redwood Wealth Management, and insurance and auto-purchasing services are also offered through RCU Services Group (RCU’s wholly owned subsidiary). RCU has more than $9.1 billion in assets and serves more than 485,000 members with full-service branches from San Francisco to Ukiah. Learn more about RCU at redwoodcu.org.