Press
Biz Kid$ Produces Prime-Time Special on Young Social Entrepreneurs
Christopher Morris
608-231-4374
cmorris@ncuf.coop
New Textbook on Banking and Financial Systems Also Produced Recently
Madison, Wis. – The producers of Biz Kid$ have produced a new one-hour special for the Ashoka organization, which supports social entrepreneurship around the world. “Biz Kid$ – Three Minutes to Change the World” follows four young entrepreneurs as they compete in an international contest to change the world. These semi-finalists must present their business ideas to some of the world’s most influential technology leaders in just 180 seconds.
Biz Kid$ is the credit union funded public television series that teaches kids about money management and entrepreneurship.
“The special is meant to inspire people of all ages to use innovation and technology to bring about change in their communities,” said Danielle Brown, Biz Kid$ National Program Coordinator for the National Credit Union Foundation. “The two funder credits we have on each episode for ‘America’s Credit Unions’ and ‘lovemycreditunion.org’ will be on the top and end of the special, which is great brand extension for credit unions as well as ‘Biz Kid$.’”
The special began airing in May and will continue to air in pre-prime or prime time spots in various cities on public television through 2012.
To watch a promo for the special, click here: http://youtu.be/C0MbMBHrgK4
New Biz Kid$ Textbook
The Biz Kid$ producers were asked last year by the Goodheart-Willcox publishing company to author a high school textbook on Banking and Financial Systems, which is now available. This is the first children’s series to author a textbook and is also the first textbook to receive the Jump$tart Coalition’s seal of approval. The entire book is branded with the Biz Kid$ look and logo and QR codes are contained in each chapter for students to connect to corresponding Biz Kid$ episode clips via mobile phones. The online and DVD version of the textbook also includes chapter on in-school credit union branches that was authored by Cathy Brorson, Outreach Coordinator at Kitsap FCU.
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.
Biz Kid$ has continually garnered attention in and outside of the credit union industry. In its five seasons, Biz Kid$ has garnered ten 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. Biz Kid$ also recently earned the Parent’s Choice Silver Award. In 2010, it also won the credit union industry’s most prestigious honor, the Herb Wegner Award for Outstanding Program.
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.