Opportunity Knock$, a public television show, will take viewers into the homes of everyday heroes, from military families to schoolteachers to first responders, on an aspirational journey of financial transformation through credit unions. Underwriting efforts will kick off with a private virtual party Feb. 26 at 1 pm ET/10 am PT.
With 52% of Americans struggling to make ends meet before the COVID pandemic struck, this motivational show will provide an intimate portrait of six families that represent many hard-working people who are facing financial difficulties and endeavoring to create stability for their families. The show will be hosted by CU Strategic Planning Chief Diversity Officer/Co-Owner Ronaldo Hardy and produced by Jamie Hammond, Jamie Strayer and Jenn George Hunter (bios below), of whom Hammond produced the wildly popular Biz Kid$ PBS television show with support from Strayer.
"What inspires me about Opportunity Knock$ is the portrayal of the true human spirit yearning to live our best lives,” Hardy said. “We are wired for it, but not everyone has access to opportunities. We want to show people how to take control of their lives and finances, no matter where they start.”
The families will begin working with a coach who sets short and long-term goals, plus regional nonprofits to increase access to education, housing and business ownership. Credit unions will then be called upon to provide debt consolidation, credit building and financing to move families forward on the wealth building continuum. Credit union employees will be interviewed to discuss the situation and how it’s touched them. At every step, Opportunity Knock$ will provide the coaching and tools the families need to succeed, along with connecting viewers to Opportunity Products at credit unions and CDFIs through an interactive map. In the end, the families will receive a prize that best suits their needs, whether it’s working capital for a small business or an educational or training scholarship. Strayer’s objective in creating the show is that viewers engaging at home will save thousands of dollars by directly connecting to credit unions with designated Opportunity Products online.
“In representing one of the nation’s oldest and trusted financial counseling services, I can definitely say people want to build a future full of possibilities,” BALANCE President/CEO Rico Delgadillo said of the show. “Opportunity Knock$ is a National Public Television program we are eager to see feature families benefiting from financial wellness.”
Hammond and Strayer are reuniting on Opportunity Knock$ following the success of Biz Kid$, which after 12 years and more than 71 episodes remains on the air and in syndication across 150+ PBS stations, and 200 other stations, including Fox, NBC, ABC and CBS, as well as making an appearance on Amazon Prime. Biz Kid$ featured stories set at 14 credit unions with exposure to millions of American consumers. Credit unions now have to opportunity to get involved Opportunity Knock$. Attend the exclusive kickoff party or contact Jamie Strayer at j.strayer@theopportunityknocks.com.
