April 2007 Financial Education Opportunities
In recognition of “Financial Literacy Month” statewide events are planned throughout the month.
See below for what organizations across the state are doing.
AARP
April 4: Invest Wise Washington – Kennewick. AARP and the Department of Financial Institutions host the second of four investor education in April. The campaign is the first of its kind in the nation to use detailed insights into the minds of con artists as a way to protect consumers. AARP and DFI kicked off a new television and radio ad campaign featuring the voice of a telemarketing fraud insider. The ads encourage people to order a free copy of the “Invest Wise” tool kit on DFI’s website. The toolkit includes a booklet to help answer questions and a new video produced by the partners. The Invest Wise Washington Campaign runs through June and includes seminars in Spokane, the Tri-Cities, Vancouver, and Lynnwood.
American Financial Solutions (AFS)
http://www.myfinancialgoals.org
April 1: Launch of On-Line Learning Center which features free personal finance series, “Investing In Yourself.” Visit the learning center at www.myfinancialgoals.org and select On-Line Classes. The series consists of eight chapters:
- Setting Financial Goals and Creating a Budget
- Your Banking Relationship
- Understanding Credit and Credit Reports
- Introduction to Borrowing
- Introduction to Investing
- Identity Theft and Predatory Lending
- Children and Money – Tips for Parents and Teachers
- Your Financial Life – For Young Adults
April 16: 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Free Money Management Class – WorkSource, Washington, 1600 Sylvan Way, Bremerton. AFS has partnered with Kitsap County Consolidated Housing Authority (KCCHA) to teach this class every month. AFS will teach the first part on Setting Financial Goals, Budgeting and Understanding Credit. KCCHA will teach the second part on Identity Theft and Predatory Lending. To register, please call 360-377-9000.
April 28: 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Free Money Management Class – AFS, 263 4th Street, Bremerton, WA. Learn to set financial goals and make a spending and saving plan. Learn useful tips about budgeting, credit and the best way to save money. To register, please call 360-377-9000.
Attorney General’s Office (AGO)
Norma Chavez from the AGO Consumer Protection Division will be featured on three Spanish-language call-in radio programs this month, all touching on issues of financial literacy.
April 3: Seattle Radio Sol 1360 AM, Topic: Credit (Spanish), 11:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
April 20: Granger Radio KDNA, Topic: Collections and Repossessions (Spanish), 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
April 22: Pasco Radio KZHR, Topic: Buying Cars (Spanish), 11:00 a.m.
Bellevue Community College (BCC)
http://www.bcc.ctc.edu/financialeducation/
BCC and the Department of Financial Institutions are collaborating to develop a financial literacy curriculum. The courses will be adaptable to meet needs of high schools, colleges and community groups. The seven courses are personal money management, saving, credit, taxes, risk management, real estate, investments and employee benefits. Each course can be offered in various formats including single 90-minute, three sessions, or ten sessions. Individuals can receive college credit for completing them at BCC.
April 3: BCC introduces the first General Business 102: Personal Money Management class. The General Business 104: Personal Credit class begins April 24. In addition, faculty and staff attend a train the trainer overview session.
Boeing Employees Credit Union (BECU)
BECU is helping children kick-start their savings. Over 40 lucky Early Savers will boost their savings account with $100 deposit from BECU. Children who open an Early Saver Youth account during April 23-28 will be entered into a drawing to win $100. A drawing will be held at each BECU location. Each child is eligible to enter only once.
Department of Financial Institutions (DFI)
Money Savvy Kids
DFI provides the Money Savvy financial literacy program in 70 – 2nd and 3rd grade classrooms, statewide. The curriculum includes eight lessons that teach kids the basics of saving, investing, donating, and spending. School administrators and teachers are encouraged to visit DFI’s website to sign up for this free curriculum.
Money Savvy U
Based on the success of Money Savvy Kids, the department will pilot Money Savvy U in 40 classrooms. The intermediate level program is designed to teach the basics of saving, investing, donating and spending in grades 5-8. School administrators and teachers are encouraged to visit DFI’s website to sign up for this free curriculum.
Money Savvy Newspaper Activity Pages
The department collaborated with Money Savvy Generation to create full page kids activity pages. The financially focused campaign runs for four weeks in newspapers across the state. The campaign included: The Seattle Times Newspapers in Education, The Seattle Medium, The Spokane Inlander, The Yakima Herald, and The Peninsula News. The series introduces the basics of saving, investing, donating, and spending.
Mad About Money
Mad About Money is a first-of-its-kind educational program that combines a live, in-school dramatic presentation with personal finance for middle school students. Throughout April and May, actors from the National Theatre for Children will present Mad About Money in 48 middle schools across the state. The program teaches the basics of saving, budgeting, credit, and investing. School administrators and teachers are encouraged to visit DFI’s website to sign up for this free program.
Hispanic Public Service Announcements
DFI launched a three month campaign on 15 Spanish speaking radio stations. The PSAs were created to educate the community about payday lending and money transmitter services. The department provides translated materials and information on the website.
Print Media Campaign
DFI launched a print campaign in newspapers across the state to educate the public about payday lending.
Department of Treasury Financial Literacy Summit (DOT)
DFI will present an overview of the department’s financial literacy program at a DOT summit of national financial literacy leaders April 17 in Washington D.C. The department will also represent the Jump$tart Washington Coalition at the national state leaders’ conference April 18-19.
Website Translation
The department will launch a Spanish version of the Consumer Information section of the website. Currently, over 47,000 unique visitors come to DFI online for information about the financial services industry.
Group Health Credit Union
GHCU is giving gifts to youth ages 2 to 18 who make a deposit of $1.00 or more and/or who open a youth savings account between - April 22 - 28. This offer is valid at all branches.
- Capitol Hill - 115 15th Ave E - Seattle
- Lake Union - 920 Dexter Ave N - Seattle
- Northgate - 11023 8th Ave NE - Seattle
- Redmond - 15120 NE 24th St. - Redmond
- Tukwila - 690 Strander Blvd - Tukwila
Jump$tart Coalition
The Jump$tart Coalition is a nonprofit organization that seeks to promote financial literacy among Washingtonians. On April 11, coalition partners will host the “Kids Excite-MINT Zone” at the Seattle Center during the unveiling of Washington’s 25-cent piece. Activities focus on teaching families about the opportunities to learn about money management. A variety of financial education-related prizes and materials will be given away during the event.
Seattle Times Newspapers in Education (NIE)
http://services.nwsource.com/nie/times/index.asp
The Seattle Times NIE Program supports K — College grade level education by providing newspapers and newspaper-based curricula to classrooms in our four-county delivery area. During financial literacy month, the paper will feature DFI’s Money Savvy Kids Activity pages. Teachers will be encouraged to sign up for NIE and register for the Money Savvy programs sponsored by the Department of Financial Institutions.
Tacoma Goodwill
Tacoma Community College will offer an eight class financial literacy course in April. Students who complete the program receive a $100 gift card to any Goodwill retail store.
Tacoma Community College
6501 S. 19th St.
Tacoma WA 98466
To Register: 253.566.5001
Start Date: April 10th
Eight Classes held Tuesday & Thursday 5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Cost: $15
Sumner Family Center
1503 Valley Avenue
Sumner, WA 98390
To Register: 253.891.6535
Start date: April 17th
Eight Classes held Tuesday & Thursday 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Cost: FREE
Moonjar Moneyboxes
Moonjar Moneyboxes are a tool used by families and kids to incorporate strong financial values and practices into their daily lives. This month, Moonjar has received orders from many non-profits, credit unions and banks who are using the Moonjar moneybox tool within their own financial literacy initiatives during the month of April.
Washington Bankers Association
The banking industry celebrates the 11th annual National Teach Children to Save Day on April 24. Bank representatives across Washington State will make presentations to students in grades K-12 about budgeting, saving, recognizing needs and wants, and how interest makes money grow.
Washington Society of Certified Public Accountants (WSCPA)
The WSCPA sponsors a free high school student outreach program. In the past year, WSCPA trained 152 CPA volunteers to present the materials to high school classrooms using. The volunteers reached 133 classrooms (over 3500 students). To extend the program, WSCPA is piloting a program with Beta Alpha Psi students at Seattle University. Seattle U students have organized an event that will reach over 300 high school students from around the state.
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