CU Solutions Group Renews Pledge to Fund Youth Financial Literacy Through Biz Kid$

Posted: 2011-08-03 00:00:00

Madison, Wis. – CU Solutions Group (CUSG), through its Invest in America (IIA) program, has pledged to commit $700,000 for the second year in a row toward the national underwriting of Biz Kid$. Biz Kid$ is the Emmy Award winning and credit union funded public television series that teaches kids about money management and entrepreneurship.  CUSG’s pledge, combined with their 2010 $700,000 contribution, makes it one of the largest independent sponsors of Biz Kid$ alongside the National Credit Union Foundation (NCUF).

“CUSG’s contribution to financial literacy is tremendous,” said Gary Oakland, President/CEO of BECU and Chair of NCUF. “CUSG’s financial commitment in tandem with support from credit unions and leagues ensures the Biz Kid$ program and curriculum will reach more youth than ever before.”

NCUF recently took ownership of fundraising, outreach and administrative responsibilities of Biz Kid$ from the Washington Credit Union Foundation to ensure the program gains the maximum support from the credit union system. CUSG’s $700,000 pledge is leading the way to achieve full funding for the fifth season, which will also put Biz Kid$ into syndication. 

 “CU Solution Group is again proud to help fund Biz Kid$ as our industry’s gift to financial education,” says CU Solutions Group’s CEO Dave Adams. “To continue to thrive as a system program well into the future, Biz Kid$ warrants the collaborative financial support of the credit union community.”

“It is our hope, that all IIA participants will participate in helping fund this critical financial literacy project by opting to allocate 10% of their year-end IIA marketing reimbursement to Biz Kid$,” encourages Bucky Sebastian, NCUF Executive Director.  Last year, many credit unions and leagues did just that. 90 credit unions and 20 leagues donated a portion of their year-end rebate which helped raise an additional $300,000 for Biz Kid$. “Our hope is that we will increase that number to 100% participation, allowing the contribution from the participants to soar to $1.2 million.”

Biz Kid$ - Teaching Kids About Money & Business

Biz Kid$, which premiered in January 2008, quickly grew into a national phenomenon. It has aired on over 340 public television stations in all 50 states with a viewership reach of 271 million people. Biz Kid$ has the highest recorded carriage of any children’s program have ever released by American Public Television, with a viewing audience of more than 1.2 million per episode. The website is currently receiving more than 100,000 unique visitors a month hailing from about 140 countries.

Many credit unions leverage Biz Kid$ to teach financial education in schools in their community. Companion materials and other resources for teachers and parents are available at no cost on the Biz Kid$ website, www.bizkids.com. The site also features clips from the series and invites kids to appear on the show.

Biz Kid$ has continually garnered attention in and outside of the credit union industry. In its first four seasons, Biz Kid$ has garnered seven Emmy nominations—winning once in 2009—and rang the closing bell ceremonies at both the New York Stock Exchange and the NASDAQ Exchange for the past three years in conjunction with National Financial Literacy Month. In 2010, it also won the credit union industry’s most prestigious honor, the Herb Wegner Award for Outstanding Program.

Over the past six years, over 260 credit union system and affiliates have raised more than $10.4 million that has supported the show’s production, website and curriculum. Credit unions can get information on supporting Biz Kid$ at ncuf.coop>National Programs>Biz Kid$>Support Biz Kid$.

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About CU Solutions Group:
CU Solutions Group, a marketing, technology and human resources company based in Livonia, Michigan, holds contracts with U.S.‐based companies for exclusive credit union member discounts through the “Invest in America” program. Its role is to provide marketing and technology support for credit unions on these membership enhancement programs. For more information on Invest in America, visit www.lovemycreditunion.org or follow @Lovemycreditunion on Twitter www.twitter.com/LoveMyCU.

About the National Credit Union Foundation (ncuf.coop):

The National Credit Union Foundation is the US credit union movement’s primary national philanthropic program provider, fundraiser and grant-maker. Through NCUF grants and programs, credit unions provide widespread financial education, create greater access to affordable financial services, and empower more consumers to save, build assets, and own homes.

NCUF is funded primarily by investments in the award-winning Community Investment Fund (CIF) and by generous Supporters led by the Credit Union National Association and CUNA Mutual.  All NCUF donors provide support that empowers NCUF and state credit union foundations to make a real impact in the credit union community.