On Monday, April 9, Pen Air Federal Credit Union presented a check in the amount of $2,577.80 to the Blue Wahoos and Studer Community Institute as part of their annual giving partnership to SCI’s early brain development initiative at the Blue Wahoos Stadium.

“SCI works to give parents the tools, advice and support they need to fill the most important job they’ll ever have — that of a child’s first teacher. We need every parent to have these tools, because the future of our children — and the future of our community — depends on it, said Shannon Nickinson, Director of Early Learning. “Because when you build a brain, you build a life and you build a community.”

Research conducted by the SCI shows that the first three years are a critical window for building healthy brains that are ready to learn. What builds a child’s brain? Talk and interaction with a loving adult — family members and caregivers alike. The more words a child hears in the first three years of life, the better chance he or she has to be ready and able to learn once that first day of kindergarten comes. And that’s a problem in our community, where data tells us about one-third of the children who start school each year don’t have the skills they need to succeed in school.

“Helping to build an educational foundation for children is our responsibility as a strong community partner,” said Stu Ramsey, president and CEO of Pen Air. “In the spirit of Communerosity, we are thrilled to make an investment today in our children and their future success in school and life because we understand the importance of early learning.”

Each time the official Blue Wahoos Platinum Mastercard® Credit Card is used, a donation is generated to Early Brain Development on behalf of the credit union. The current donation that was presented comes from funds that have been collected from the last 12 months.

To date, $6,594.36 has been given through this partnership. Learn more about the charitable program at penair.org/BlueWahoos.

SCI is focused on improving our community’s quality of life. The Institute does that by focusing on skill building for employees and businesses and creating tools and interventions to help parents and caregivers understand the role of parent talk in healthy early brain development in the first three years of life.

The Pensacola Blue Wahoos are the Double-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds. Established in 2012, the Blue Wahoos are in the Panhandle of Northwest Florida and play baseball at Blue Wahoos Stadium.

At Pen Air Federal Credit Union, respect is a guiding principle. As the largest and oldest credit union headquartered in Pensacola, Florida, with $1.3 billion in assets, Pen Air is dedicated to enhancing lives through exceptional service, strength, and financial solutions. Nineteen locations in Northwest Florida and Southeast Alabama, which include three student-run credit unions at area high schools, combined with Online and Mobile banking provide worldwide reach. Pen Air is a not-for-profit, member-owned financial institution, serving the community and improving lives since 1936. For more information, visit penair.org or call (850) 505-3200/toll free (877)4PENAIR.