ST. THOMAS — As public media organizations and nonprofits across the country grapple with shrinking funding sources, the St. Thomas Federal Credit Union has secured and distributed $50,000 in grant funding to seven Virgin Islands organizations, including a $10,000 contribution to WTJX, the Virgin Islands Public Broadcasting System.
The funding was obtained through the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York’s Small Business Recovery Grant Program, an initiative that allows eligible member institutions to apply for up to $50,000 in grant proceeds and distribute up to $10,000 to nonprofit organizations and small businesses.
Keisha Richards, chief executive officer of the St. Thomas Federal Credit Union, thanked Alexies Sornoza, vice president, relationship manager, and senior business development officer at the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York, who serves member institutions in the Virgin Islands, for helping make the grants possible.
“Our focus is on nonprofit entities,” Richards said.
The credit union qualified for the full $50,000 and divided it among seven organizations: $10,000 each to WTJX, the Reichhold Center for the Arts, and St. Thomas Rescue; $5,000 each to the Virgin Islands Children’s Museum, the Virgin Islands Center for the Disabled Inc., the Family Resource Center, and the St. John School of the Arts.
According to a press release announcing the awards, the Reichhold Center for the Arts, located on the campus of the University of the Virgin Islands on St. Thomas, is the territory’s premier performance venue. Dedicated to preserving and celebrating the artistic heritage of the Virgin Islands and the wider Caribbean, the Reichhold Center continues to enrich the community through performances, youth workshops, and cultural initiatives despite hurricane damage sustained in 2017.
St. Thomas Rescue is a volunteer-based nonprofit organization providing vital search and rescue services across land and sea. Its highly trained team plays a critical role in public safety, assisting residents and visitors in distress while supporting local emergency agencies.
The Virgin Islands Children’s Museum fosters curiosity, creativity, and hands-on learning experiences for children and families. Through interactive exhibits and educational programs, the museum supports early childhood development and inspires a lifelong love of learning.
The Virgin Islands Center for the Disabled provides essential services and advocacy for individuals with disabilities, promoting independence, accessibility, and inclusion through rehabilitation programs, education, and community outreach.
The Family Resource Center, established in 1981, provides critical services to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, and elder abuse throughout the Virgin Islands. Through emergency shelter, counseling, legal advocacy, and outreach programs offered at no cost, FRC works to break the cycle of violence and empower families to heal and thrive.
The St. John School of the Arts enriches the cultural fabric of the Virgin Islands by providing accessible arts education in music, dance, theater, and visual arts. Serving students of all ages, the organization fosters creativity, self-expression, and community connection.
Richards said the decision to support WTJX carried special significance because of its role in informing and connecting the community.
“I think that the work and the information that WTJX, as a Public Broadcasting System, promotes and puts forth in our community is good information, is wholesome, and it gives our community the opportunity to have an unbiased look at what goes on within our community,” she said.
Tanya-Marie Singh, WTJX chief executive officer, received the donation while meeting with Richards this week.
“It was such an unexpected yet wonderful surprise,” Singh said of Richards’ call to inform her of the grant. “I had no idea that a grant was on the table, but when you do good work, it is rewarded.”
Singh said as a Crucian she only became familiar with the St. Thomas Federal Credit Union during the coronavirus pandemic.
“They couldn’t have their annual meeting by traditional means due to COVID protocols, so they asked WTJX to stream their virtual meeting online and we did one better, we broadcasted the meeting on television as well, allowing their stakeholders accessible mediums to receive information,” Singh said. “Since then, I’ve observed how Ms. Richards has led expansion of the St. Thomas Federal Credit Union and I’m beyond impressed.”
The contribution comes at a challenging time for public broadcasting nationwide.
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting was created by Congress in 1967 to help fund public media organizations across the United States by distributing federal support to PBS, NPR and local public radio and television stations. In 2025, President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans pushed to eliminate federal funding for public broadcasting, arguing that PBS and NPR exhibited political bias. Congress ultimately approved legislation rescinding approximately $1.1 billion in previously authorized CPB funding.
Supporters of public broadcasting warned that the cuts would disproportionately affect local stations that rely on federal support for educational programming, local journalism, and emergency communications. Following the funding reductions, CPB’s board voted in January to dissolve the organization, ending nearly six decades as the primary federal funding conduit for public broadcasting. However, PBS and NPR stations are still here, serving their communities.
“After Congress zeroed out funding to public media, stations across the country are making tough decisions to survive while maintaining their integrity and content delivery,” Singh said. “NPR recently cut 28 journalists due to declining revenues from station membership fees and sponsorship. The PBS NewsHour Weekend was canceled earlier this year because of federal funding cuts. Despite accusations of political bias, I want to believe that at their core people recognize that the truth does matter even when it is inconvenient to one’s individual agenda or belief, and it is our charge to stay the course and continue reporting the truth despite the noise.”
As a result of the federal cuts, Singh said WTJX is reorganizing its personnel, cutting positions, and only hiring critical vacancies — all the while managing the station’s resources, rebuilding its Haypiece facility, repairing and hardening its Mountain Top facility, and maintaining and upgrading its aging equipment. She said WTJX is also hoping to expand its local programming next year.
“This takes money and expertise,” Singh said. “That’s why donations, of any amount, are important as it helps us continue to support our community not only through our reporting and programming, but with our assets as we continue to be a critical part of the public infrastructure. While the station’s assets are government owned, its editorial operations remain independent. Maintaining and supporting a full-powered public television and radio station requires ongoing investment.”
Richards said the credit union has heard concerns throughout the community about the financial challenges facing local nonprofits, including WTJX.
“As a local financial institution, we have a fiduciary responsibility to ensure that we can provide and assist our community in any way that we can,” she said.
Founded in 1952, the St. Thomas Federal Credit Union was established to serve the local community and remains governed and operated by Virgin Islanders. Richards said the credit union is a locally owned and operated financial institution whose board, leadership, and staff are entirely composed of Virgin Islanders who are completely vested within the community.
“We foster an environment of ensuring that what we do supports our local community, and we try to partner with any entity, any businesses, any nonprofit that has that same social thought process as we do to enhance our community as best as we can,” she said.
