Madison, Wis. -- The National Credit Union Foundations (NCUF) board of directors has approved 16 new Biz Kid$ grants for 2013, totaling $124,961. The new grants engage the credit union movement in using Biz Kid$ and its curriculum to build students financial literacy and economic education skills. Biz Kid$ is the credit union funded public television series that teaches kids about money management and entrepreneurship.
According to the 2013 Junior Achievement/Allstate Foundation Teens and Personal Finance Survey, 76% of teens report the best time to learn about money management is in kindergarten through high school, but only 29% reported programs currently in place.
"There is a need to improve the financial literacy skills of the youth in America and Biz Kid$ is the perfect vehicle to address that need," said Danielle Brown, Biz Kid$ Program Coordinator for NCUF. "We are excited to fund these innovative programs that will improve the financial education of youth through the use of the Biz Kid$ program."
Some highlights of the grant projects:
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Maps Credit Union in Salem, Ore. will work in partnership with ���� Western Oregon Universitys College of Education to incorporate Biz Kid$ ���� into the curriculum of Elementary Social Studies Methods, a course ���� required of all university students graduating from the Elementary ���� Education program. The integration of Biz Kid$ into their coursework will ���� lead to the use of Biz Kid$ in the classrooms.
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STAR Credit Union in Madison, Wis. will create an Entrepreneurship ���� Club to teach teens at the Boys and Girls Club of Dane County about ���� entrepreneurship through hands-on experience and the opportunity to launch ���� a business of their own. Biz Kid$ lessons and videos will be used to teach ���� the club members how to write a business plan, create a budget, and write ���� a proposal for a business.
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Cornerstone Credit Union Foundation ���� in Farmers Branch, Texas will create ���� a Biz Kid$ Teacher Training and Entrepreneur Contest pilot program to show ���� educators how to teach the Biz Kid$ program. Participating teachers will ���� implement the Biz Kid$ curriculum in their classrooms and students will ���� collaboratively create a business plan for a needed organization in their ���� community, thus incorporating the entrepreneurship skills learned through ���� Biz Kid$.
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Travis Credit Union in Vacaville, Calif. will use Biz Kid$ to ���� provide the financial literacy curriculum needed for students ���� participating in a Work Ready Certification Program. The program is ���� designed to verify that students have the entry-level skills needed to ���� succeed in the workplace, contribute as citizens, and help students ���� understand the link between their educational/career goals and financial ���� planning.
The other credit union organizations receiving grants include:
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Boulder Valley Credit Union, Boulder, Colo.
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BrightStar Credit Union, Sunrise, Fla.
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Caprock Santa Fe Credit Union, Slaton, Texas
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CASE Credit Union, Lansing, Mich.
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Cook Area Credit Union, Cook, Minn.
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Holy Rosary Credit Union, Kansas City, Mo.
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League of Southeastern Credit Unions, Tallahassee, Fla.
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Natco Credit Union, Richmond, Ind.
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Palisades Federal Credit Unions, Pearl River, N.Y.
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Silver State Schools Credit Union, Las Vegas, Nev.
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Western Heritage Credit Union, Alliance, Neb.
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White Rose Credit Union, York, Pa.
The National Credit Union Foundation oversees fundraising and outreach responsibilities of Biz Kid$. Over the past six years, more than 300 credit unions and affiliated organizations have raised more than $13.8 million that has supported the shows production, website and curriculum. In fact, every Biz Kid$ episode begins and ends with a narrator reminding viewers that: "Production funding for Biz Kid$ is provided by Americas Credit Unions, where people are worth more than money."
For more information about Biz Kid$,
click here.
