Silver State Schools Credit Union (SSSCU) helped elementary students learn the importance of saving through its innovative program, “The Piggy Bank Project”. At the end of the school year, students at Walter Bracken Elementary saved just over $40,000. SSSCU received a Biz Kid$ Financial Education Grant from the National Credit Union Foundation (NCUF) to help fund this initiative.
The Piggy Bank Project is a collaborative effort between SSSCU, Walter Bracken Elementary School, The United Way of Southern Nevada, Young Philanthropist Society, Junior Achievement, and the Andson Foundation to provide real savings accounts for elementary students, while also providing in class financial education to reinforce the habit of saving money.
Through the use of Biz Kid$ videos in the classroom, students learned the important concepts of needs vs. wants, goals, budgeting, and smart spending.
“At the elementary level, kids learn best and remember videos, far more than any presentation or worksheet,” said Anthony McTaggert, Chief Operating Officer of the Andson Foundation. “The Biz Kid$ videos reinforce the lessons, and give the ever-important piece – media – that helps commit the lesson to memory.”
The project also included an on-campus “piggy bank”, which gave students the chance to put into practice the lessons they learned in the classroom.
“Collaborating in the community to provide financial education to youth through SSSCU’s Piggy Bank Project is a great example of the credit union mission in action,” said Danielle Brown, Director of Development & Donor Relations for NCUF.
A Foundation Grant at Work
This “Grant at Work” is part of a series that highlights NCUF grantees who made a positive impact in their community and empowered consumers to achieve financial freedom through credit unions. NCUF grants are made possible by supporters of the Foundation.
About the National Credit Union Foundation (ncuf.coop):
The National Credit Union Foundation (NCUF) is the charitable arm of the US credit union movement and works as a catalyst to improve people’s financial lives through credit unions. Through NCUF grants and programs, credit unions provide widespread financial education, create greater access to affordable financial services, and empower more consumers to save, build assets, and own homes. Donations to the Foundation enable credit unions to help their members reach life-changing goals and achieve financial freedom.