Select and customize one of the season-appropriate newsletter articles below and include appropriate segments in your newsletter either online or in print.
Spring Newsletter article
The following article can be customized and included in your first quarter/spring newsletter. We recommend including photos from your financial education activities.
Headline: With [CU Name] it's never too early to begin financial education!
Copy:
Spring is the perfect time to think about new beginnings and exciting possibilities. Here at [CU Name], we want to make sure our youngest members have great new beginnings in financial education. That’s why we partner with the New York Credit Union Foundation to provide resources and programs that teach kids and teens essential money management skills.
There are many ways you can help your child or grandchild begin their financial education. Here are a few we recommend:
[Note: The following bullets should be customized based on programs, products or events your credit union is offering in the spring/summer.]
- Open a [Youth Savings Account Name] for your child age X-X. [List features and basic info.]
- Pick up a free Kids Cash Kit at our branch today! These kits, designed for kids age 5-10, feature money boxes for “spending, saving and sharing,” a family guide, a financial goals poster, a glossary, an age-appropriate activity book and more.
- Celebrate the National Youth Savings Challenge with us from April 17-23. We’ll be offering [list any programs or events], so be sure to participate!
- Grab the whole family and tune into BizKid$, an award-winning PBS series that teaches youth (age 9-18) about saving and making money. New episodes will start airing in April, so check your local PBS station for listings. A companion website with activities and episodes is also available at www.bizkids.com.
- Save the date for Money & Me, a free money workshop just for teens. [CU Name] will be hosting this workshop [dates, times], so [contact us/visit website, etc.] to learn more!
Whether you take advantage of one or all of these great opportunities, [CU Name] is here to help. To learn more about our financial education programs, visit [website or contact info]. To learn more about the New York Credit Union Foundation, visit www.nycuf.org.
Summer newsletter Article
The following article can be customized and included in your summer newsletter. We recommend including photos from your financial education activities.
Headline: School’s out…but financial education is always a priority at [CU name]!
School may be out for the summer, but [CU Name] is offering great educational opportunities.
Highlight any summer workshops or events.
To learn more about our financial education efforts, visit [website or call to action info]. To learn more about the New York Credit Union Foundation, visit www.nycuf.org.
Gold headline: Fall newsletter article
The following article can be customized and included in your fall newsletter. We recommend including photos from your financial education activities.
[CU Name] is earning an “A” in financial education!
Summer has ended, and the youth in our community are officially “back to school.” We know they’ll learn valuable skills in math, science, English, history and more. But there’s a critical skill that isn’t always in the lesson plans: understanding and managing money. This skill will impact every area of their lives, but many are never taught it. In fact, only 29 percent of teachers nationwide are teaching financial education—and fewer than 20 percent feel “very competent” to teach any personal finance topics.*
At [CU Name], we’re committed to making sure our teachers and students get the financial education resources they need. That’s why we partner with the New York Credit Union Foundation to deliver presentations and free financial education materials to our local schools.
As a member of [CU Name], you’re an important part of our efforts—and we want to make sure you know about them! Here are just a few ways we’re earning an “A” in financial education:
[Note: Bullets should be customized based on your credit union’s activities.]
• Every year, we supply New York high school teachers and students with free, award-winning financial education curriculum.** As a result, teens learn a series of critical skills, like how to make a personal financial plan and budget, how to manage credit, how to use financial services and how to adapt their lifestyles and habits to meet financial goals.
• On DATE, we [sponsored/participated in] a local financial education training session, where [##] teachers, credit union staff and other community volunteers learned how to teach financial education curriculum and educate youth about topics like investing, new credit card regulations, bankruptcy prevention and tax preparation.
• We sponsor the brass|STUDENT PROGRAM, which provides local students with free issues of brass|MAGAZINE, a lifestyle money magazine written by young adults. The program also offers free online resource centers for both students and teachers.
• [Highlight any other workshops, events or classroom presentations.]
To learn more about our financial education efforts, visit [website or call to action info]. To learn more about the New York Credit Union Foundation, visit www.nycuf.org.
* Teachers’ Background & Capacity to Teach Personal Finance study, published in 2010 by the National Endowment for Financial Education
** National Endowment for Financial Education® (NEFE®) High School Financial Planning Program® (HSFPP)
Gold headline: Winter newsletter article
The following article can be customized and included in your fourth-quarter newsletter.
Financial education: [CU Name] has something for everyone!
[CU Name] is committed to financial education, which is why we partner with the New York Credit Union Foundation to offer fun, educational programs that build financial literacy. These resources aren’t just for youth, however! No matter your age, you can increase your financial literacy.
Kids age 5-12: Get your Kid’s Cash Kit & Caboodle.
The Kids Cash Kit & Caboodle makes money management fun for kids age 12 and under. These free kits, created by the New York Credit Union Foundation, feature money boxes for “spending, saving and sharing,” a family guide, a financial goals poster, a glossary, an age-appropriate activity book and more. The Kids Cash Kit & Caboodle is a great way to introduce children to money management, and they’re available for free at [CU Name]. Stop by and get yours today!
[Note: Highlight any other programs your credit union offers for children.]
Youth grades 6-12: Take the LifeSmarts challenge.
[CU Name] is proud to support LifeSmarts, a free, game-show style competition developed by the National Consumers League and coordinated in New York State by the New York Credit Union Foundation. Led by a coach, students in grades 6-12 form teams, practice and compete online to prove their knowledge of personal finance, consumer rights and responsibilities, technology, health and safety, and the environment. Teams can join the 2010/2011 LifeSmarts competition any time before Feb. 4, so [visit www.nycuf.org > Financial Education > LifeSmarts to learn more!] or [if you want to form a team, contact us today!]
[Note: Highlight any other programs your credit union offers for teens.]
Adults: Make financial education a family affair.
Talking to kids about money can be tough. Luckily, several of the programs we support offer great resources to make financial education a family affair. The NEFE® High School Financial Planning Program® website has a section just for parents, where you can find helpful articles and more. Visit http://hsfpp.nefe.org/ and click the “Parents” box in the top right corner.
Biz Kid$, the award-winning television series underwritten by America’s Credit Unions, is another great way to make financial education fun for the whole family. In addition to watching the episodes together (they’re available on 99 percent of public television stations), you can download lessons, activity sheets and other materials on the Biz Kid$ website. Visit www.bizkids.com and click “Cool Biz Stuff” at the top.
[Highlight any other workshops or online tools your credit union offers for adult members.]
To learn more about the financial education resources available to you, stop by your local [CU Name] branch or contact us at [contact info]. To learn more about the New York Credit Union Foundation, visit www.nycuf.org.
