Program will award $10,000 in grants to educators across Harford County, Baltimore County, Carroll County, and Baltimore City
March 26, 2026 – Freedom Federal Credit Union is now accepting applications for its 2026 Golden Apple Annual Education Awards, an annual program that will provide $10,000 in grant funding to local educators across Harford County, Baltimore County, Carroll County and Baltimore City. Eligible applicants include employees of public and private primary and secondary schools, including teachers, administrators, and support staff. Applicants must be new or existing Freedom members to receive an award.
For more than a dozen years, the Golden Apple Awards have helped local educators bring impactful ideas to life in their classrooms, schools, and communities. “It’s been incredibly rewarding to see how the Golden Apple Educator Awards program has grown over the years,” said Mike MacPherson, President and CEO of Freedom Federal Credit Union. “What began as a way to honor and support our members who are educators has continued to expand, allowing us to invest in innovative ideas that positively impact students, energize schools, and strengthen communities.”
Freedom will award ten Golden Apple Educator Awards this year, including two $2,000, four $1,000, and four $500 awards to local education employees. The program recognizes educators with innovative ideas that can positively impact students, classrooms, schools, and the broader community.
As part of the application, entrants must submit an essay addressing one or more of the following questions:
- What is your creative idea or initiative to benefit your students, classroom, or school, and how will you bring it to life using the funds from this award?
- How will your idea or initiative support or improve the learning experience of your students or benefit your classroom or school overall?
- Will your idea or initiative benefit the overall community? If yes, how so?
Interested applicants can complete the entry form available at freedomfcu.org/golden-apple and submit their completed application materials to enter@freedomfcu.org by May 31, 2026. Entries will be reviewed by a panel of Freedom employees, volunteers and community partners. Award recipients will be contacted by June 22, 2026 and will be honored guests at an awards reception in August.
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.