FREMONT, MI (April 30, 2014) --
As part of the Michigan Credit Union League & Affiliates’ 11th Annual Financial Literacy Legislative Challenge students at Newaygo High School and White Cloud High School met with Representative Jon Bumstead and Gerber Federal Credit Union President/CEO John Buckley during the month of April. Students at Fremont High School and Hesperia High School met with Senator Goeff Hansen and Gerber Federal Credit Union President/CEO John Buckley during the month of April.
This collaborative event is held each April in conjunction with Financial Literacy Month and Money Smart Week®, and brings together lawmakers, students, and financial professionals. It is a unique partnership which builds relationships between Michigan legislators and their constituents while providing students lifelong financial skills.
“Our commitment to Financial Literacy is central to who we are as a credit union,” said Gerber Federal Credit Union President/CEO John Buckley. “Besides our student-run branch at the Newaygo County Career-Tech Center (Commons Cash Center), these joint appearances with our elected leaders show the students and school staff the importance of responsible financial decision-making. The emphasis on budgeting, establishing and maintaining good credit, good career building skills and the consequences of not doing these are being heard by a very willing generation. All of us at Gerber FCU are pleased to be part of such a worthwhile program as the Financial Literacy Legislative Challenge,” said Buckley.
April’s Financial Literacy Month includes a variety of local workshops and programs put on by financial institutions across the state. In 2014, Michigan credit unions will host or sponsor dozens of events in schools and communities statewide, and are participating in the Money Smart Kids Read – a program to promote financial skills among younger children and their parents – at more than 100 libraries.
Gerber Federal Credit Union also held a Financial Literacy Fair titled “Buck Dynasty: How to Get More Bang for Your Buck” in partnership with the Newaygo County Regional Educational Service Agency (NCRESA). This event was open to the public and participants visited booths to experience various financial life lessons all made fun by the “Duck Dynasty” theme.
Gerber Federal Credit Union is a proud sponsor of local schools, school events and the Banzai Real-World Financial Literacy program.
“Credit Unions are invested in and committed to their members, even the youngest members,” said MCUL & Affiliates CEO David Adams. “Good financial skills are so important to instill, and we’re proud to bring lawmakers into the classroom for the Financial Literacy Legislative Challenge as we work together to make sure our students learn how to manage money.”
Michigan’s credit unions are national leaders in youth financial education all year long, reaching nearly 58,000 students in 2013 with more than 3,200 classroom presentations and organizing more than 250 student-run credit unions across the state – the most in the country.
Gerber Federal Credit Union has over 13,000 members with assets totaling over $122 million. More than 120 businesses have partnered with Gerber FCU to offer the benefit of credit union membership to their employees, volunteers and family members! For membership details, visit www.gerberfcu.com/youbelong. Gerber FCU has two offices located in Fremont, MI, one in Newaygo, MI and one in Fort Smith, AR. Connect with us on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter.
Organized in 1934, the Michigan Credit Union League is a statewide trade association representing roughly 95% of Michigan’s credit unions. Based in Lansing, the MCUL offers credit unions assistance in the areas of regulatory compliance, legislative advocacy, media advocacy and operational information. For more information, visit www.mcul.org and follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MICreditUnions and Twitter at www.twitter.com/MICreditUnions.
For more information about Gerber Federal Credit Union or this event, please contact Heather Wiersema, Gerber FCU Marketing Manager, at (231) 924-4880 ext. 147 or email marketing@gerberfcu.com.
For more information about the Michigan Credit Union League, please contact Maureen Lafrinere, MCUL & Affiliates Director of Communications, at 800-262-6285 ext. 24242 or email Maureen.lafrinere@mcul.org.
Thank you,
Heather Wiersema
Marketing Manager
Corporate Office
(231) 924-4880 Ext. 147
(231) 924-5922 Fax