MaPS Credit Union
Partner: Salem-Keizer Public Schools

The need for businesses to step in with work-based learning experiences has changed the face of education in our state. As a tribute to their education roots, MaPS has demonstrated a long history of responding to the needs of the school district through business partnership activities at all levels of learning, both for the student and the teacher.

The business partnership between MaPS Credit Union and Four Corners Elementary was one of the first 10 created in the district nearly 25 years ago and still exists today. Each of MaPS' six full service branches in Salem-Keizer has a partnership with at least one elementary or middle school. Additionally, MaPS has educational branches in three of Salem-Keizer's six traditional high schools, the longest having been in place at North Salem High School since 1995. These educational branches provide a number of opportunities for students, including on the job training, business experience, mentoring of younger students through branch partnerships and paid internships. MaPS invests nearly $70,000 annually through its affiliation with the education branches.

A charter sponsor of the Crystal Apple Awards, MaPS also assisted in the creation and implementation of Education Leadership Institute and took on sponsorship of score boards for all six high schools. During some very lean budget years between 2003 and 2005, MaPS created an innovating "1% Visa give back" that generated over $133,000 for K-12 schools in Marion and Polk counties - over half of the funds donated were to schools in 24J.

Most recently, MaPS Credit Union awarded $7,500 in college scholarships to eight Marion and Polk county graduates.