SUNCOAST CREDIT UNION FOUNDATION PROVIDES $5000 TO THE MARK WANDALL FOUNDATION
The Mark Wandall Foundation announces a charitable gift of $5000 from the Suncoast Credit Union Foundation. The funds will sponsor four grieving children from across Florida to attend the Foundation’s 3-Day Bereavement Camp, delivered in partnership with Comfort Zone Camp, April 24-26, 2026. The Mark Wandall Foundation’s donor-funded camp welcomes up to 62 youth who have experienced the death of a parent, sibling, or guardian, embracing campers in a safe and supportive environment where they can connect with peers, gain therapeutic services, and build health coping mechanisms. Programs like this are vital, as 1 in 10 children in Florida will experience the death of a parent or sibling prior to the age of 18.
Melissa Wandall, Founder of The Mark Wandall Foundation shares, “Access to specialized grief programs remains limited and often cost-prohibitive. Our camp addresses this gap by offering a donor-funded, evidence-informed program where children are surrounded by trained adults who guide them with care and consistency and by peers who understand their experience. Our Foundation and the families we serve are incredibly grateful for the continued investment and generosity of the Suncoast Credit Union Foundation. Their support ensures grieving children obtain the tools necessary to understand their grief, strengthen their emotional resilience, and re-engage with confidence in their families, schools, and communities.
Suncoast Credit Union, Florida’s largest credit union, founded the Suncoast Credit Union Foundation to promote the education, health and emotional well-being of children in the community. Each time a Suncoast member uses their debit or credit card, the credit union donates four cents to the Foundation to fund local initiatives. Since its inception in 1990, the Foundation has raised and donated over $61 million.
“Grieving is difficult at any age but for children it presents special challenges that can affect their entire lives,” says Jeff Kunberger, Executive Director of Suncoast Foundations. “Being able to provide this important experience with the supportive services, gives children an opportunity to begin the healing they need to move forward,” he added.
About The Mark Wandall Foundation
Founded in 2024, The Mark Wandall Foundation is a 501(c)3 organization dedicated to connecting, uplifting, and providing support for grieving youth who have experienced the death of a parent, sibling, or guardian. We do this through our partnership programs with Comfort Zone Camp and our Equine Assisted Learning partners. We also support our youth via our College Scholarship Program and our Quarterly Reconnects. We aim to light the way toward a happy, healthy, and optimistic future for ALL the youth we serve.
About Suncoast Credit Union
Suncoast Credit Union is the largest credit union in the state of Florida, the 8th largest in the United States based on membership, and the 10th largest in the United States based on its $20.2 billion in assets. Chartered in 1934 as Hillsborough County Teachers Credit Union, Suncoast Credit Union currently operates 79 full-service branches and serves more than 1.3 million members across Florida. As a community credit union, anyone who lives, works, attends school, or worships in Suncoast Credit Union’s service area is eligible for membership. In 2021, Suncoast Credit Union’s field of membership was expanded to include public K-12 teachers, college educators, and educational support staff from all of Florida’s 67 counties. Suncoast is passionate about community support. Since its founding in 1990, the Suncoast Credit Union Foundation has raised and donated more than $61 million to organizations and initiatives that support the health, education, and emotional well-being of children in the communities that the credit union serves. For more information, visit suncoast.com or follow us on social media: Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.