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Adventist HealthCare Joins the Support Education Foundation to Warm Hearts and Hands of Local Students
January 20, 2026 (Gaithersburg, MD) –– The Support Education Foundation, a nonprofit established by Educational Systems Federal Credit Union, is proud to announce a meaningful collaboration with the Adventist HealthCare Community Partnership Fund. Adventist HealthCare has committed $2,500 to sponsor the Foundation’s Warming Hearts and Hands initiative to help students in Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties.
The Warming Hearts and Hands initiative distributes thousands of kits each winter, filled with new hats, gloves, mittens, scarves and socks to K-12 and community college students in need. These items are more than just winter wear; they are essential tools that help students stay warm, healthy and focused on their education during the coldest months of the year. This effort directly addresses the social and resource insecurity that often leads to health outcome disparities.
“We are incredibly grateful to Adventist HealthCare for joining us in this mission of care and compassion,” said Kristy Mathey, Board Chair of the Support Education Foundation. “For many students, a warm pair of gloves or a cozy scarf can be the difference between arriving ready to learn or needing a moment to recover from the cold before fully engaging.”
The winter clothing kits are distributed in close collaboration with Title I school staff, ensuring that the most vulnerable students are prioritized. These moments of giving are filled with smiles, hugs and heartfelt thanks — a testament to the difference a community can make when it comes together.
“The initiative is a natural fit for our commitment to addressing the crucial social determinants of health, particularly poverty and resource insecurity, that lead to health disparities in our service area,” stated Gina Maxham, the Director of Community Benefit and Engagement at Adventist HealthCare. “Ensuring children are warm and healthy is a fundamental step toward removing barriers to their education and long-term well-being.”
Through partnerships like this, the Support Education Foundation and Adventist HealthCare are proving that warmth, care and community can truly change lives — one pair of mittens at a time.
Adventist HealthCare supports programs that improve health and wellness for residents in the communities served by the organization. Through its Community Partnership Fund, Adventist HealthCare is committed to supporting local organizations that address health disparities and the social determinants of health, with a focus on specific counties.
The Support Education Foundation, Inc., a 501(c)(3) established by Educational Systems FCU in 2017, supports students and school employees through charitable giving programs.
Educational Systems FCU is a member-owned, not-for-profit financial cooperative, founded in 1955 to serve the education community. With $1.3 billion in assets, 13 branches and 90,000 members, the Credit Union strives to make financial wellness and stability accessible for all the communities they serve.
Adventist HealthCare, based in Gaithersburg, Maryland, is one of the longest-serving health systems in the Washington, D.C., region. It includes Shady Grove Medical Center, White Oak Medical Center, Fort Washington Medical Center, Adventist HealthCare Rehabilitation, Home Care Services, Adventist Medical Group, Imaging and Cardiac Associates. Our mission is to extend God’s care through the ministry of physical, mental, and spiritual healing. For more information, visit AdventistHealthCare.com.