(Albany, NY) – The New York Credit Union Foundation and Cabot Creamery Cooperative recently held a Health & Wealth Fair for more than 75 kids, teens, parents and grandparents in Syracuse, N.Y.
The fair, which took place at the Huntington Family Center, was a hands-on, fun way to connect grandparents/parents to their grandchildren/children. It featured finance workshops led by local credit unions specific to ages 5-8, 9-12, 13-15 and adult and health workshops for all ages led by Cabot and WellTrail.
The fair also served as the launch of the Growing Health and Wealth Program, an awareness campaign/kit for children (ages 6-10) and their families developed by the Foundation in partnership with Cabot Creamery Cooperative. The campaign was created to recognize the fact that health and wealth are correlated and that the earlier parents and grandparents help their young ones understand and learn the benefits of a healthy diet and money management the better off they will be.
To help give kids that head start, the partnership created a kit that includes a set of three saving, spending, sharing moneyboxes, a dual Growing Health and Wealth activity book, a financial goals poster and family guide. The kits were provided free to fair participants. An additional 12,000 kits will be distributed by Central New York credit unions.
“Many people get into financial trouble because of health-related issues,” said ???????. “The sooner children are taught about the benefits of diet and exercise and managing money, the better prepared they will be for their futures.”
Credit unions participating in the Growing Health & Wealth Program include: ACMG FCU, AmeriCU Credit Union, Cooperative Federal CU (Syracuse), CORE FCU, Empower FCU, Focal Point FCU, Liverpool Central Schools FCU, MONEY FCU and Syracuse Fire Department EFCU.
Fair partner’s included: Huntington Family Center, WellTrail, Inc., Open Hand Theater, Child Care Solutions and St. Lucy’s Church Community Garden.
Cabot Creamery Cooperative has been in continuous operation in Vermont since 1919. The farmers who own Cabot (1275 dairy farm families located throughout New England and upstate New York) support healthy initiatives for schools and, as a cooperative, reach out to other cooperatives to support that message. For additional information on Cabot Creamery visit www.cabotcheese.coop.
The New York Credit Union Foundation serves credit unions, schools and community organizations that help improve the financial literacy and independence of New Yorkers and promote the credit union difference. For more information about the Foundation, visit www.nycuf.org.
