CU Insight

Christopher Morris
608-231-4374
cmorris@ncuf.coop

Youth Financial Literacy Show Also Earns Parents Choice Silver Award

Madison, Wis. –  Biz Kid$ has received Daytime Emmy nominations in three categories including Outstanding Children’s Series, Single Camera Editing and Sound Editing from the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Awards will be given on June 17, 2012 in Los Angeles, Calif. Biz Kid$ is the credit union funded public television series that teaches kids about money management and entrepreneurship.

Biz Kid$ has now received 10 Emmy nominations in the last four years, including winning once in 2009. This is the first time it has been nominated for Outstanding Children’s Series.

In addition, Biz Kid$ also received its first ever Parent’s Choice Silver Award recently. Established in 1978, Parents’ Choice Foundation is the nation’s oldest nonprofit consumer guide to quality children’s media. As a Parents’ Choice Award® winner, Biz Kid$ is a member of a very select group. Fewer than 20% of the products submitted to the Parents’ Choice Awards program receive any level of commendation. Parents’ Choice serves as an independent source for educators and librarians, journalists, as well as families searching for quality children’s media and toys.

Biz Kid$ has continually garnered attention in and outside of the credit union industry. For example, in 2009, Biz Kid$ won the Environmental Media Award for Outstanding Children’s Television Series and rang the closing bell ceremonies at both the New York Stock Exchange and the NASDAQ Exchange for three years in conjunction with National Financial Literacy Month. In 2010, it also earned a Silver Telly Award for Outstanding Children’s Financial Literacy Programming as well as the credit union industry’s most prestigious honor, the Herb Wegner Award for Outstanding Program.

The National Credit Union Foundation (NCUF) oversees fundraising, outreach and administrative responsibilities of Biz Kid$, which recently started its fifth season. Over the past six years, more than 290 credit unions and affiliated organizations have raised more than $13.2 million that has supported the show’s production, website and curriculum. In fact, every Biz Kid$ episode begins and ends with a narrator reminding viewers that: “Production funding for Biz Kid$ is provided by America’s Credit Unions, where people are worth more than money.”

Biz Kid$ – Teaching Kids about Money & Business
Biz Kid$, which premiered in January 2008, quickly grew into a national phenomenon. Since the series launch, Biz Kid$ has been broadcast to more than 271 million people, in more than 98% of the country. Of all APT children’s programs currently on the air, Biz Kid$ has the largest national market penetration in the United States, airing on more than 338 public television stations. When compared to children’s programs of a similar target demographic, Biz Kid$ has more viewers, a larger number of broadcasts, and a higher metered market count.

Many credit unions leverage Biz Kid$ to teach financial education in schools in their community. In addition to NCUF’s box sets and starter kits, 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.

For more information about Biz Kid$, click here.

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 Corporate 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 financial freedom achievable through credit unions.

The National Credit Union Foundation is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charitable organization. NCUF continues to earn the Better Business Bureau seal of approval as an “Accredited Charity” for meeting all 20 BBB Wise Giving Alliance Standards for national charities.