Truliant FCU Gives $40,000 to Financial Education Grant Winners
February 12, 2021
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (February 11, 2021) – Truliant Federal Credit Union announced today the winners of its annual Financial Education Grants for public schools.
Eleven of the 38 applicants in Truliant’s member-owner communities are receiving grants for individual programs aimed at improving financial literacy. Truliant is distributing more than $40,000 to this year’s winners.
In the fall of 2020, teachers from eligible districts were encouraged to submit financial literacy project funding requests. A panel that included three retired educators selected the winners. A scoring system was used to select the most worthy projects. Grants are being given to schools in Mecklenburg, Forsyth, Guilford and Pulaski counties.
Truliant created the Financial Education Grants in 2016 to recognize its milestone of reaching 200,000 member-owners. The fund, now in its fifth year, has provided $200,000 to school programs.
The fund is intended to strengthen financial literacy in grades 6-12 by supplying up to $5,000 in financial-education grants to public-school teachers so they can incorporate financial-education opportunities into their curriculums.
“Study after study shows that Americans fall woefully short of being financially literate,” said Atticus Simpson, director of community affairs at Truliant. “We hope and believe our focus on financial education in the classroom will support teachers, educate students and better prepare the future workforce for equitable economic mobility and growth.”
Mecklenburg County
South Mecklenburg High School, Charlotte, N.C., $1,000: The grant is being used as a stipend and start-up funding for five students to participate in workshops so they can start a new business idea.
Ranson IB Middle School, Charlotte, N.C., $5,000: The grant will be used to support the Stock Market Game. During the game, the students will improve team building, financial literacy and 21st-century skills. At the end of the program, students will be exposed to a college or university that has an outstanding business program.
Northridge Middle School, Charlotte, N.C., $3,500: Students will be introduced to entrepreneurship with a focus on marketing, financial literacy and leadership development. The program will end with a “Shark Tank” competition.
Forsyth County
Flat Rock Middle School, Winston-Salem, N.C., $3,000: The grant will fund a Computer Coding Club. Students will learn about computer science through Bitsbox, basic webpage creation, coding and JavaScript for kids.
Winston Salem/Forsyth County Schools, Winston-Salem, N.C., $5,000: The grant will be used to develop engaging economic inquiry lessons to address the new North Carolina Standards for the Economics and Personal Finance course.
Guilford County
Ben L. Smith High School, Greensboro, N.C., $4,700: The grant will engage Title 1 students in a series of financial literacy workshops: savings, budgeting, learning how to earn, the cost of being unbanked, investing, building credit, taxes, power of compound interest, unemployment compensation, SMART goals, insurance and health care.
Eastern Guilford High School, Gibsonville, N.C., $2,450: The grant will provide Digital Design students the opportunity to produce 2D and 3D computer animations and videos for various entertainment, science and technology businesses.
High Point Central High School, High Point, N.C., $4,940: Through the grant, the school will purchase simulation labs, interactive video controls, text lessons, section quizzes and exams, certification practice exams, performance reports for teachers and students, and an exam voucher for an applicable exam. Instructors will receive complimentary access to the course materials.
Northwest Guilford Middle School, Greensboro, N.C., $5,000: The grant will allow students to upgrade their accounts to a PLUS membership so they will be able to participate in the Stock Market Simulator, Crypto Market Simulator and the Forex Market Simulator with real market data.
Weaver Academy, Greensboro, N.C., $5,000: The grant will allow the HVAC program to upgrade the equipment and tools in the classroom so students will be better prepared to succeed in the Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning industry.
Pulaski County
Pulaski County Career and Technical Education Center, Dublin, Va., $5,000: The grant will fund upgrades to the Cougar Store, a school enterprise that is operated by the students.
About Truliant Federal Credit Union
Truliant is a mission-driven, not-for-profit financial institution that promises to always have its member-owners’ best interest at heart. It improves lives by providing financial guidance and affordable financial services. Truliant was chartered in 1952 and now serves 267,000+ members. Truliant has more than 30 Member Financial Centers in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.