Westerra Credit Union partnered with the Colorado Rockies over the summer to provide funds for schools across the state, including the Douglas County School District.
Stock photo
Paul Brady
For various schools across the Denver metro area, it was better to see a Colorado Rockies baseball player walk to first base rather than hit a home run this baseball season.
At the start of the 2025 Major League Baseball season, Westerra Credit Union launched the Westerra Walks for Education program, and throughout the spring and summer, the company pledged $200 to local classrooms every time the Colorado Rockies reached first base on a walk.
From the start of the season in March to Sept. 21, there were more than 215 walks at Coors Field. Those walks led to Westerra Credit Union being able to raise $43,600 throughout the season.
These funds have gone to assist local educational initiatives through its School Grant Program, helping ensure that schools have classroom necessities, art supplies, sports equipment, after-school programs and more.
“Supporting educators isn’t just a priority for us, it’s part of our DNA,” said Nicole Andrushko, Westerra Credit Union vice president of marketing. “We’re proud to stand beside the teachers who inspire the next generation of leaders.”
Westerra Credit Union has supported educators and their schools since its inception, as the company was founded by eight school teachers in the 1930s.
Westerra Credit Union started the grant program over a decade ago and, over time, has given more than $500,000 to more than 1,000 Denver metro area school programs, including the Douglas County School District.
About $5,000 has gone to the school district, according to a spokesperson for Westerra Credit Union.
The Douglas County School District has known of Westerra Credit Union’s generosity for multiple years.
The company has been an annual sponsor for the Foundation for Douglas County Schools, an independent charitable organization that develops private resources to support students and schools in the Douglas County School District
A portion of Westerra Credit Union’s funds goes to support the Foundation for Douglas County Schools Opportunity Grants.
According to the Foundation for Douglas County Schools website, these grants encourage teachers to set their sights on new and creative goals by supporting their professional development and helping make their ideas become a reality for students.
Aiming to improve the educational experience for students, Opportunity Grants also help fund projects and innovative approaches to establish a deeper meaning to the curriculum.
One example of how funds from Westerra Credit Union have been used was at the Douglas County School District Legacy Campus near Lone Tree. An Aviation Pathway Developer at the school was able to get a Private Pilot Practice test prep course to help students gain real-world experiences.
But the funds don’t always have to go towards a grand project in the school district.
Over the past year, elementary, middle and high schools throughout the entire district have received funding to assist with a variety of projects, big and small.
Whether the funds are being used for lights and camera equipment, rock climbing safety harnesses, books or supporting students with disabilities, Opportunity Grants have been given to schools to help expand educational opportunities and accelerate student achievement.