Organization Award Winners
2006
2007
2006 Organization Award Winners
Asset Builders of America, Inc
Asset Builder of America Builders has taken a multiple approach to bringing
the issue of financial literacy to the forefront by coordinating the
Money Conference, hosting informational sessions and spearheading the
starting of investment clubs. They are inclusive from rural, suburban
to urban from Black to Native American to Hispanic. They also send out
national news and briefs containing financial literacy information. They
have made talking about money the “in thing” or a comfortable
conversation rather you have much or a little.
Website: www.assetbuilders.org/
Precision Information Systems LLC
Precision Information Systems LLC is a leading provider of interactive
financial education products to financial service firms and millions
of individual investors. Our customers benefit from the company's proprietary
database of more than 8,000 tutorials, articles, quiz questions and definitions.
Such industry leaders as Ameritrade, Morningstar, Intuit, and New York
Life rely on Precision Information to provide accurate, reliable, unbiased,
engaging and easy-to-use NASD-compliant material through web, print,
and software applications. PI's flagship software product, The Encyclopedia
of Personal Finance NBR Edition™, is the most comprehensive personal
finance education resource available for the individual investor.
Website: www.precision-info.com/
Wisconsin Bankers Association Personal Economic Program
In 1989, the Wisconsin Bankers Association (WBA) formed the Personal
Economics Program with a goal to improve financial literacy among children
and adults in Wisconsin by providing our member bankers with the materials
to do so. The WBA Personal Economic Program provides its members with
a resource library of professionally produced videos and curriculum materials
for its classroom and adult presentations. WBA also provides its members
with an annual educational conference and an annual awards ceremony for
those bankers that go above and beyond. In 2004-05, nearly 700 Wisconsin
bankers reached 46,293 students and adults in teaching personal finance
all across the state.
Website: www.wisbank.com/products/pep.php
Wisconsin Credit Union League (REAL Solutions Program)
Through this initiative, credit unions meet consumers’ immediate
needs for transaction services at a more reasonable price while offering
financial education and/or counseling. The credit union moves the consumer
through the steps of opening a basic deposit account, building creditworthiness
with small loans, and – over time – building wealth. As a
result, those who are helped become less susceptible to using predatory
services and gain the solid financial footing they need to remain self-supporting,
contributing members of our state’s economy.
Website: www.theleague.coop/
Wisconsin JumpStart Coalition on Personal and Economic Education for
Youth
Over 100 organizations comprise The Wisconsin Jump$tart Coalition. They
strive to make a difference. Their mission is to improve the personal
financial and economic literacy of Wisconsin's citizens, particularly
its youth.
Objectives:
- Create a clearinghouse of financial education resources that
complements the National Jump$tart Clearinghouse.
- Raise awareness of the need for financial education.
- Work with other individuals and organizations to promote financial
literacy
Website: www.wijumpstart.org
2007 Organization Award Winners
Business and Economics Academy of Milwaukee
The Business and Economics Academy of Milwaukee (BEAM) is a grades Pk-4
to 8 public charter school that specializes in economics and personal
finance. Some highlights of BEAM’s activities include:
Planned and implemented a Business and Economics curriculum that begins
in the primary grades and culminates in specialized course in careers,
consumer mathematics and economics in the upper grades.
Initiated several special programs for the school including a school
bank, school store, Holiday Market, field trips to businesses, and
after school programs such as the Millionaires Club.
Active in planning the Milwaukee Money Conference. BEAM teachers,
students and parents are very active in the Money Conference. BEAM
will host the April 28, 2007 conference.
Active in planning and teaching PAID Plus - - a financial education
program for adults at BEAM and at the United Community Center
Capital Credit Union
Capital Credit Union has two financial literacy initiatives targeting
youth in cooperation with two area school districts: The Little Chute
Elementary School Finance Program (2nd graders), and a Personal
Finance Class taught at Kimberly High school
Capital’s Little Chute Elementary School Finance Program: is
designed to introduce younger children, approximately ages 7-8 (2nd
graders), to the basic principles of earning, saving and budgeting
money at a level that encourages practical application. Each year,
two Capital employees/member associates, Michelle Berken and Nancy
Nagan present three separate sessions in March, April and May using
a hybrid curriculum.
In conjunction with the Personal Finance Class, in 2002, Capital Credit
Union opened an in-school office at Kimberly High School which employs
students and helps to reinforce practical application of sound financial
principles like saving and other money management skills for high school
students.
Website: www.capitalcu.com/
Catholic Charities Budget Counseling
For several years, Catholic Charities Budget Counseling (CCBC) has been
working with adult residents of shelters as well as transitional living
programs to increase their financial literacy. CCBC activities include:
Budget counselors work one on one with residents to address budget counseling
and consumer credit counseling. They create spending plans with the residents
and meet with them every pay period to review the past plan as well as create
the next plan. They review credit reports with residents and work towards
developing and implementing plans for improving scores.
They also provide a more formalized education through a variety of available
workshops such as: Credit When Credit is Due and Rent Smart. These workshops
continue to focus on financial literacy topics such as: buying VS leasing,
the loan process, purchasing a home, credit cards, how to be a good renter,
ect.
CCBC has found that many of those they’ve worked with spend a great
deal of income on pre-packaged convenience foods because they haven’t
learned how to prepare meals during their youth. To help develop these
needed skills CCBC has combined efforts with the WI SHARE Program, who
develops
and teaches residents how to prepare foods through hands-on cooking
lessons. CCBC furthers those lessons with presentations on budgets, menu
development
and grocery shopping.
Center for Teaching Entrepreneurship
CTC works with a need-based group – students from low- to moderate-income
households who live in Milwaukee’s central city. These students
typically have a low starting level of financial literacy.
This program consistently motives its students to improve themselves, to
learn about what it takes to be an entrepreneur, and how to put their ideas
into practice.
CTE stresses a “train the trainer” strategy, and many of its
students provide substantive education to their peers after completing CTE
training.
Website: www.ceoofme.biz/
Common Wealth Development Inc
Common Wealth Development Inc addresses a continuum of skills to help
at-risk teens strengthen their overall financial literacy. To do this
they:
Combine insight and tools from the areas of money management, ongoing
savings habits, and employment preparation.
Deliver the programs in schools, neighborhood centers, nonprofit agencies,
local businesses and other locations to reach teens in the most effective
settings for specific program topics and outcomes.
Website: www.cwd.org
Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Sheboygan
Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Sheboygan provided leadership
in the Money Smart Week Initiative in Sheboygan County. The agency’s
commitment to financial literacy was exemplified in the staff presenting
over 60 events with over 808 participants. There were several highlights
of the week but one was working with the local Headstart organization.
They partnered with the local Northwestern Financial Network representatives
to secure 210 Penny the Pig banks. They presented to 63 adults; teaching
them how to teach their children them how to save using Penny the Pig.
Website: www.cccsonline.org/
CoVantage Credit Union - Kidz Credit Union
CoVantage Credit Union has implemented a children’s credit union
at three of its branch locations to teach middle school students how
a credit union works and how to manage finance. The students learn how
to save money, use/balance a check book, and how to open a savings account.
This program has also seen provided some benefits to the parents for
the children, as the students are bringing the information they learn
back to their homes, further spreading financial literacy.
Website: www.covantagecu.org/
Dodge County Income of Her Own Conference
This conference is geared at teaching the concepts of entrepreneurship
and economic self-sufficiency to middle school girls. This conference
has been conducted in Dodge County five times and has seen great success.
This success has been proven through pre and post tests taken by the
participants and in evaluations by the student’s teacher chaperones,
women in business facilitators, and committee members. Over the past
6 years, this conference has reached over 425 middle school girls.
Goodwill NCW (GoodMoney)
GoodMoney delivers a not-for-profit alternative to payday lending. The
first and only business model of its kind in the nation, GoodMoney offers
short-term loans at half the cost of a typical payday loan service, while
also offering referrals for financial counseling and education to FISC.
GoodMoney is an opportunity for consumers to proactively manage their
finances. Customers have access to FISC (Financial Information and Service
Center) a program of Goodwill NCW that offers counseling workshops and
debt management plans to help people better understand and manage money.
Website: www.goodmoneystore.com/default.asp
Junior Achievement of Wisconsin
This organization has made expansive and coordinated efforts to promote
financial literacy across the state. More than 136,000 Wisconsin students
will participated in this program during 2006-2007. Junior Achievement
programs uniquely include:
Age appropriate, hands-on economic materials for students grades K through
12
Trained adult volunteers facilitating all program activities, sharing
experiences, and acting as positive adult role models for students
Students learn to manage personal finances, balance household budgets,
apply credit and interest scenarios, write business plans, and ultimately
start businesses
Website: http://wisconsin.ja.org/
Mitchell Bank
In 2000, Cardinal Bank was created as a branch of Mitchell Bank. Cardinal
Bank is a full-service bank operated by the students of South Division
High School. Each year approximately a dozen students participate in
running the bank as part of an internship program. Cardinal Bank teaches
the internship students about the many different skills required to run
a bank. Under the tutelage of a teacher and the Mitchell Bank staff,
the students are responsible for marketing the bank, opening accounts,
establishing budgets, balancing the vault, and conducting transactions
for their customers. Having the bank inside the school has also helped
educate the entire student body about the importance of saving.
Website: www.mitchellbank.com/
Money Smart Week – Sheboygan County
Money Smart Week Sheboygan County was a group of committed individuals
that ceased the opportunity to promote financial education programs in
the county.
They developed marketing materials, grocery bag stuffers, posters,
billboards, and got the local politicians involved in promoting the
week. The local
colleges provided students as introducers and survey takers. They also
had a booth at Wisconsin Farm Technology Days promoting Money Smart
Wisconsin and a booth at the Sheboygan County Fair promoting the
local events.
The group provided 90 events for 1000 individuals and saw great success.
Parker Community Credit Union
Parker Community Credit Union provides two programs to help youth receive
good financial information.
Willy Wabbit Club
Children (ages 0- 12) with accounts receive an official membership
card, membership certificate, savings account passbook and a give for
opening
an account. Members also receive a stuff “Willy Wabbit” when
their account balance reaches $200 and are allowed to pack a toy
from a special bin each time the bring in their coin saver full ($5.00)
Power Start
Upon opening and account, each member (ages: 15-22) receives several
items including: 50 free checks, “Guide to Money” booklet,
and free PAL (Personal Account Line, Audio Response Access) Members
are also eligible
for an annual $500 Power Start college scholarship.
Parker Community Credit Union also provides local high schools with
literature for student entitle “Making the Right Money Moves” and
has an online money education center.
Website: www.pccu.org/
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