Golden Apple Educator Awards – 2025

Golden Apple Awards

We are now accepting entries for this year’s Golden Apple Educator Award! Entrants must be a current Freedom FCU or Atlantic Financial FCU Member* and an employee at a Harford County, Baltimore County, Baltimore City, or Carroll County school (public or private, PreK-12th).

now FEATURING

TWO $2,000 Awards  –  FOUR $1,000 Awards  –  FOUR $500 Awards

 

To enter, submit an entry form and essay. The essay must describe how you would use the funds and why you should be selected for an award! Scoring favors proposals demonstrating the greatest impact on local schools, classes, students, and/or the community at large.

Freedom Federal Credit Union has once again increased the number of grant awards available, and is pleased to offer TEN Annual Educator Awards ranging from $500 up to $2,000.  Eligible applicants are Education Employees who may be a deserving teacher, school administrator or school support employee from a Harford County, Baltimore County, Baltimore City, or Carroll County school.

Scoring favors submissions with the greatest impact and creativity with a strong preference for ideas/initiatives that are sustainable over multiple years.

.TO ENTER: Complete the entry form and submit an essay that demonstrates the significance of your idea or initiative and how it will be beneficial. Your essay may address any or all of the following questions:

  1. What is your creative idea or initiative to benefit your students, your class, or your school? If you win this award, how will you make it happen using the funds from this award?
  2. How will your idea or initiative support or improve the learning experience of your students or benefit your classroom or school overall?
  3. Will your idea or initiative benefit the overall community? If yes, how so?

Please submit your Golden Apple – 2025 Educator Award Entry Form and essay to enter@freedomfcu.org by May 31, 2025.

All entries will be reviewed by a panel of judges made up of Freedom employees, volunteers and community partners.

  • Entry deadline is May 31, 2025 
  • Submit by email to enter@freedomfcu.org
  • We will contact award recipients by June 20, 2025

LEARN ABOUT THE EXCLUSIVE BENEFITS OFFERED TO OUR EDUCATORS- EXPLORE THE REST OF THE GOLDEN APPLE PROGRAM!

*New members are also welcome to apply! Educators that are members of Atlantic Financial FCU are now apart of our Freedom FCU family and are also welcome to apply.


Read About Past Golden Apple Awardees:

2024 Recipients
2023 Recipients
2022 Recipients
2021 Recipients
2020 Recipients
2019 Recipients

2024-2025 Branch Closings Schedule

Please take advantage of our digital services when branch closings are in effect.

 

(End of) 2024 closures

Christmas Eve – Tuesday, December 24, 2024 (Closing at 1pm)

Christmas – Wednesday, December 25, 2024

New Year’s Eve Tuesday, December 31, 2024 (Closing at 1pm)

 

2025 closures

New Year’s Day 2025 – Wednesday, January 1, 2025

Martin Luther King Jr. Day – Monday, January 20, 2025

President’s Day – Monday, February 17, 2025

Memorial Day – Monday, May 26, 2025

Juneteenth – Thursday, June 19, 2025

Independence Day – Friday, July 4, 2025

Labor Day – Monday, September 1, 2025

Columbus Day (Indigenous Peoples Day) – Monday, October 13, 2025

Veterans Day – Tuesday, November 11, 2025

Thanksgiving – Thursday, November 27, 2025

Christmas Eve – Wednesday, December 24, 2025 (Closing at 1pm)

Christmas – Thursday, December 25, 2025

New Year’s Eve – Wednesday, December 31, 2025 (Closing at 1pm)

 

*Closed during normally posted operating hours unless otherwise marked.

 

FREEDOM ROCKS ’24: An Epic Night of Music, Fun, and Giving Back

Freedom Federal Credit Union and The Freedom to Help Foundation Sell Out 1st Annual Bull and Shrimp Roast in Support of Local Community Initiatives 
Air Guitar Contest at Freedom Rocks
Rockstar vibes took center stage as contestants shredded their way through the Freedom Rocks ’24 Air Guitar Contest, delivering electrifying performances that had the crowd cheering and the room buzzing. Credit: Lisa Snodgrass

November 26, 2024  Bel Air, MD Freedom Federal Credit Union, through The Freedom to Help Foundation, hosted its first-ever Freedom Rocks ’24 Bull and Shrimp Roast on Saturday, November 16th, raising over $21,000 to support its mission of enriching the community. The event brought together attendees for a night filled with food, fun, and philanthropy at Boumi Shriners in Rosedale, MD. 

The proceeds from the sold-out event will directly benefit The Freedom to Help Foundation, which provides critical resources to support education, health and wellness, and military families throughout the communities it serves, which now includes Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Carroll County, and Harford County. 

The evening’s festivities included highlights such as an air guitar contest, a glow stick party, a TapSnap photo booth, basket auctions, a money wheel, 50/50 raffles, and a playlist of the greatest rock hits from the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s. Attendees, dressed in their best concert gear, embraced the spirit of the night and helped make the event a tremendous success. 

Every guest had an opportunity to visit the Freedom Rocks Merch Stand and select a complimentary Freedom Rocks T-Shirt to remember the night.  

Freedom Federal Credit Union extends its deepest gratitude to all the sponsors who contributed to making this event possible. Special thanks go to The Kelly Group (Headlining Sponsor), Velera, and The Baltimore Sun Media Group, whose generous support made a significant impact.  

Additional thanks go to the other event sponsors: Bravura, Community College of Baltimore County, MD|DC Credit Union Association, Elegant Restoration, Enradius, Harford Community College, Hartman Executive Advisors, Jones Junction, TB3, The Servion Group, Redmer Insurance Group, Kearly & Company, SIAB, Ben’s Tires, CBIZ Insurance Services, Dolphin Debit Access, Gerety Insurance, Global Memories Travel, Hopkins Farm Brewery, Origence, and Pixelspoke. 

The Freedom to Help Foundation, established in 2023, continues to fulfill its mission of empowering communities, providing resources for individual success, and supporting those in need. Events like Freedom Rocks ’24 demonstrate the power of community partnerships in driving positive change. 

For more information about The Freedom to Help Foundation, please visit freedomfcu.org/foundation. View additional photos from the event on Freedom’s Facebook page at facebook.com/freedomfcu 


About The Freedom to Help Foundation 

The Freedom to Help Foundation supports Freedom Federal Credit Union’s commitment to the people and communities of Baltimore and Harford Counties. Established in January 2023, the Foundation’s mission is to enrich the communities we serve, empower individual success through education, provide resources for health and wellness, and to support our military and their families. Learn more at freedomfcu.org/foundation. 

About Freedom Federal Credit Union 

Freedom Federal Credit Union is a community-chartered federal credit union offering business banking services and consumer financial services to those who live, work, volunteer, worship, attend school, or have family in Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Carroll County, and Harford County. To learn more, visit freedomfcu.org.