Bright Beginnings Grant Program – Caliday – 2026

Bright Beginnings Logo - Blue

We are now accepting entries for this year’s BRIGHT BEGINNINGS GRANT PROGRAM!

AWARDING FOUR $500 GRANTS TO CALIDAY EDUCATORS
Applicants must be employed at a Caliday Before and After School Program location.

Freedom is proud to support early childhood educators through the Bright Beginnings Grant Program. This year, we are awarding four $500 grants for educators at Caliday Before and After School Program locations, to recognize innovative ideas that positively impact young learners.

Applications will be evaluated based on creativity, impact, and sustainability, with preference given to ideas and initiatives that can be implemented and sustained over multiple years. Applicants are encouraged to include links to products and a brief breakdown of supplies and associated costs, if applicable.

All submissions will be reviewed by a panel of judges.

As an additional ‘thank-you’, any center with a winning application will also be treated to a staff appreciation event, hosted by Freedom, to celebrate the entire team’s dedication and hard work.

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 below and submit an essay that demonstrates the significance of your idea or initiative and how it will be beneficial.

  • The application deadline is March 31, 2026
  • Applicants must be employed by a Caliday Before and After School Program location
  • Selected grant recipients will be contacted by the end of April

LEARN ABOUT THE EXCLUSIVE BENEFITS OFFERED TO OUR EDUCATORS – EXPLORE THE GOLDEN APPLE PROGRAM!

The 2026 Bright Beginnings Educator Program

Freedom Federal Credit Union proudly supports early childhood educators with Celebree School and Caliday Before and After School Programs through the Bright Beginnings Grant Program, awarding $8,000 in total grants to recognize innovative ideas that positively impact young learners.

Applicant Information

Name(Required)
Address(Required)
Are You a Current Freedom Federal Credit Union Member?(Required)

School and Professional Information

Please Select Your School(Required)
Please Select Your Region(Required)

School Address(Required)
How did you hear about this grant program?(Required)

Essay Submission

Essay Topic

Complete the entry form and upload 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? 2. If you win this award, how will you make it happen using the funds from this award? 3. How will your idea or initiative support or improve the learning experience of your students or benefit your classroom or school overall? 4. Will your idea or initiative benefit the overall community? If yes, how so? Please include a budgeted list of items that would be purchased with the grant money, and include images and links to sample product pages, where applicable.
Max. file size: 220 MB.
Verification and Consent(Required)

Freedom Federal Credit Union Grows Its Community-Focused Development Team

New Business Development and Community Relations Officers to expand outreach efforts

January 21 2026 Press Release Image With Names

January 21, 2026 – Freedom Federal Credit Union is pleased to announce three new appointments to its growing Business Development and Community Relations Team. Brent Howard and Kevin Wiley join Freedom as Business Development Officers, bringing more than 50 years of combined experience to the Credit Union. In addition, Brian Peller continues his distinguished tenure with Freedom in his newly appointed role as Community Relations Officer, bringing more than 30 years of financial services experience to the position.

As a new Business Development Officer, Brent Howard brings more than 20 years of experience strengthening businesses and communities throughout the Baltimore region. His career spans multiple industries, from helping startups find their footing to expanding the impact of established organizations. Most recently, Howard served as President and CEO of the Baltimore Chamber of Commerce from 2018 to 2025. He is an alumnus of Morgan State University, with a background in political science and government. A resident of the greater Baltimore area, Howard is married and a proud girl dad to two daughters. Outside of work, he enjoys attending live concerts and sporting events, traveling, and spending quality time with his family. A Lego enthusiast, he especially enjoys sharing that creative outlet with his children.

“After spending over two decades building relationships and supporting businesses throughout the Baltimore region, I’m excited to bring that same passion to Freedom Federal Credit Union,” said Howard. “What attracted me to Freedom is its genuine commitment to being a member-owned, community-focused organization. I look forward to connecting with local businesses in my new role.”

Kevin Wiley joins Freedom as a Business Development Officer with more than 30 years of experience in the financial services industry. Throughout his career, he has held a variety of roles in branch management, lending, business banking, merchant services, investment banking, business development, and financial education. A lifelong resident of Harford County, Wiley brings deep local knowledge of the communities and businesses within Freedom’s field of membership. He enjoys spending time with his wife, daughter (when she is home from college), and their two beloved pets. In his free time, Wiley enjoys watching movies and cooking shows, taking walks, traveling, and indulging his lifelong love of comic books.

“I am excited to work for a company where the culture revolves around making sure members, employees, and the community are the priority,” Wiley said. “I recognize the need for financial literacy in our area and look forward to sharing my knowledge with the community and business partners as part of the Freedom Team.”

With more than 30 years of experience, Brian Peller has held a variety of member-facing and community-driven roles in the financial services industry and continues that work as Freedom’s Community Relations Officer. Previously, Peller served as a Business Development Officer for Freedom. He grew up in Rosedale and has lived in Bel Air for 29 years. His wife, Gina, is a long-time teacher in Baltimore County, and their twin daughters work in the medical and higher education fields. A lifelong Orioles fan, Peller also enjoys traveling, especially to Disney World. In his new role, he will serve as a liaison between Freedom, local community organizations, and The Freedom to Help Foundation.

“I am so pleased to be serving our community in my new role as Community Relations Officer,” said Peller. “In my 30 years in the financial services industry, I have seen the importance of financial literacy and responsible, informed banking decisions. I am proud of Freedom’s commitment to financial education and look forward to helping connect community resources with everything Freedom has to offer.”

“The appointment of these three accomplished professionals underscores Freedom Federal Credit Union’s ongoing commitment to the communities we serve in Harford and Baltimore Counties, as well as our continued expansion into Carroll County and Baltimore City in the year ahead”, stated Carmen David Mirabile, Chief Growth Officer of Freedom. “Along with our entire Business Development and Community Relations Team, I look forward to them continuing to strengthen local partnerships, supporting businesses and individuals, and deepening our community engagement.”


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. Freedom was founded in 1953 and currently has eight locations throughout Harford and Baltimore Counties. To learn more, visit freedomfcu.org.

Bright Beginnings Grant Program – Celebree – 2026

Bright Beginnings Logo - Blue

We are now accepting entries for this year’s BRIGHT BEGINNINGS GRANT PROGRAM!

AWARDING ONE $2000 GRANT PER CELEBREE DISTRICT
Applicants must be employed at a Celebree School.

Freedom is proud to support early childhood educators through the Bright Beginnings Grant Program. This year, we are awarding three $2,000 grants for Celebree Schools (one award per district), to recognize innovative ideas that positively impact young learners.

Applications will be evaluated based on creativity, impact, and sustainability, with preference given to ideas and initiatives that can be implemented and sustained over multiple years. Applicants are encouraged to include links to products and a brief breakdown of supplies and associated costs, if applicable.

All submissions will be reviewed by a panel of judges.

As an additional ‘thank-you’, any center with a winning application will also be treated to a staff appreciation event, hosted by Freedom, to celebrate the entire team’s dedication and hard work.

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 below and submit an essay that demonstrates the significance of your idea or initiative and how it will be beneficial.

  • The application deadline is March 31, 2026
  • Applicants must be employed by a Celebree School
  • Selected grant recipients will be contacted by the end of April

LEARN ABOUT THE EXCLUSIVE BENEFITS OFFERED TO OUR EDUCATORS – EXPLORE THE GOLDEN APPLE PROGRAM!

The 2026 Bright Beginnings Educator Program

Freedom Federal Credit Union proudly supports early childhood educators with Celebree School and Caliday Before and After School Programs through the Bright Beginnings Grant Program, awarding $8,000 in total grants to recognize innovative ideas that positively impact young learners.

Applicant Information

Name(Required)
Address(Required)
Are You a Current Freedom Federal Credit Union Member?(Required)

School and Professional Information

Please Select Your School(Required)
Please Select Your Region(Required)

School Address(Required)
How did you hear about this grant program?(Required)

Essay Submission

Essay Topic

Complete the entry form and upload 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? 2. If you win this award, how will you make it happen using the funds from this award? 3. How will your idea or initiative support or improve the learning experience of your students or benefit your classroom or school overall? 4. Will your idea or initiative benefit the overall community? If yes, how so? Please include a budgeted list of items that would be purchased with the grant money, and include images and links to sample product pages, where applicable.
Max. file size: 220 MB.
Verification and Consent(Required)