Equip-a-Kid: GECU Gives Back Through Beech Acres Parenting Center

Since 2021, General Electric Credit Union (GECU) has supported Beech Acres Parenting Center’s Equip-a-Kid campaign, which equips local students with the supplies they need to succeed in the classroom, as well as therapy supplies that address overall mental wellness. We’re ecstatic to once again support their initiative and inspire you with their story and impact!

It all starts with children 

Beech Acres has served a vital role in the community for over 176 years. Founded in 1849 as an orphanage caring for children left homeless by the Cholera epidemic, its commitment to children has remained unwavering. Over time, Beech Acres evolved to meet changing needs—becoming a licensed foster and kinship care provider in 1975, expanding their parent support services, and now preparing to launch a new app to empower parents anytime, anywhere.  

These and other innovations ensure their services are relevant to the needs of families and kids today, says Laura Mitchell, President and CEO of Beech Acres.  

“Our main aim is to make sure our families, community, and children are healthy...We want to move our people past the services that we provide to wellness,” says Mitchell. “We believe that the way to create healthy communities is through how we raise our children, and so we provide innovative solutions for the adults who raise our young people." 

Equip-a-Kid 

Beech Acres' Equip-a-Kid campaign is a charitable initiative aimed at empowering students by providing essential resources that help them feel confident, supported, and ready to succeed both in and out of the classroom. Each year, GECU employees come together to donate school supplies, snacks, and care package items that are distributed by Beech Acres across Southwest Ohio and Greater Cincinnati.   

This year, we’re proud to announce we donated 74 backpacks filled with school supplies, along with additional school supplies, snacks, and care package items! 

“The support that we’ve gotten from General Electric Credit Union has really been impactful and transformational for our Equip-a-Kid program,” says Jordan Huizenga, Vice President of Development at Beech Acres. "We collect anywhere from 400 to 500 backpacks each year...and [GECU] is our largest corporate partner and donor to this campaign.”  

For GECU, supporting Beech Acres is a natural extension of our mission of Improving the Quality of Financial Lives and promoting total wellbeing for our members and the broader community.  

“The partnership with Beech Acres reflects GECU’s philosophy of ‘People Helping People,’” says Angelica Seay, Engagement Specialist for the GECU Cares program. “They invest in the long-term success of our community, ensuring children have the tools they need to succeed, and families have the support they need to grow stronger." 

Join us in supporting Beech Acres   

Beech Acres offers a variety of meaningful ways for individuals to support children and families across Greater Cincinnati and Southwest Ohio.  

Supporters can get involved by joining event committees, sponsoring activities, donating items or funds, or offering their time and skills. Whether through hands-on volunteering or ongoing contributions, engaging with Beech Acres is a powerful way to help extend their impact and uplift the community. 

“At the end of the day, we are about children, we’re about their future, and we’re about wellness for our communities and for our families. Our services are for all families, not just families that have lost custody of their children, or poor families,” says Mitchell. “There are children across the spectrum, across neighborhoods, and across communities who could benefit from mental health services...and parental support from their parents. Our work transcends race, gender, ethnicity, and socioeconomic background.” 

GECU is proud to stand alongside Beech Acres in their mission to uplift children and families through initiatives like Equip-a-Kid. We believe that when kids are equipped with the tools they need—emotionally, mentally, and academically—they’re empowered to thrive. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for more GECU Cares highlights.