The $17.4 billion, Riverdale, Utah-based America First Credit Union made a $500,000 endowment to the Gary R. Herbert Institute for Public Policy at Utah Valley University, supporting students who are qualified to participate in public policy internships in Washington, D.C. but are unable to pay for the associated costs, the credit union announced Thursday.

The contribution will directly support the university's program for Government and High-Impact Internships based in Washington, D.C. – named the America First Credit Union Undergraduate Fellowship Program – helping to cover expenses for Utah-based students living temporarily in the high-cost-of-living east coast city, which include tuition and housing. According to the announcement, UVU strives to place approximately 70 students per year in government and high-impact internships, with 40 student interns working with public policy leaders in Utah and the remaining 30 spending a semester in Washington, D.C.; as a result of AFCU's grant, an additional 15 interns will have the opportunity to go to D.C. each year for their internship.