AUSTIN, TX (July 8, 2026) |
Dream Publishing and A+ Federal Credit Union (A+FCU) announced a collaboration to distribute co-branded copies of Start Young and Build Freedom through A+FCU youth programs, school partnerships, and community events. For A+FCU, the collaboration expands its longstanding commitment to youth financial education by providing an engaging, story-driven resource that teaches entrepreneurship, money management, and financial independence.
Founded in 1949 by 50 Austin-area teachers, A+FCU has grown into an award-winning, not-for-profit financial cooperative with 22 branches and more than 194,000 members across Central Texas. From its earliest days, the credit union has carried an education-first mission captured in its purpose statement of Banking on each other. Building stronger communities.®
Community programming sits at the heart of what A+FCU does. The credit union maintains close relationships with local schools and educators, offers free financial education curricula and presentations to students, and facilitates money management simulations for youth. Additionally, through the A+ Education Foundation, its philanthropic arm founded in 2005, A+FCU has invested in classrooms and educators across the region for decades. The partnership with Dream Publishing builds directly on that work, supporting both students and educators with an engaging and easy-to-digest resource.
"We’ve always believed financial education is one of the greatest investments we can make in young people,” said Priscilla Olvera, Director of Community Education & Scholarships, A+ Federal Credit Union. “What makes this book special is that it doesn’t just teach financial concepts – it helps youth see what’s possible for themselves. We’re excited to put that message into the hands of families across Central Texas.”
Start Young and Build Freedom is an illustrated, 272-page true story following author Simon Komlos from struggling student to entrepreneur and co-founder of Zogo, the financial literacy app that partnered with more than 250 credit unions and reached two million users. Designed in the style of Diary of a Wimpy Kid and informed by a clinical psychologist specializing in stress and resilience, the book uses entrepreneurship as a vehicle for financial education and is aligned with the Jump$tart Coalition National Standards for Personal Financial Education.
“A+FCU is a credit union that was literally founded by educators,” said Simon Komlos, author and founder of Dream Publishing. “That commitment to financial education and track record of investing in students and teachers – that’s exactly what we built Dream for.”
