AUSTIN, TX (July 20, 2026) |
Dream Publishing, the publisher behind Start Young and Build Freedom, today announced a partnership with Harborstone Credit Union, the Lakewood, Washington-based credit union serving more than 104,000 members in the Puget Sound region. The partnership will bring co-branded copies of the book to teens and families throughout the credit union’s community footprint, providing a practical, story-driven guide to entrepreneurship and financial independence.
Founded in 1955 as McChord Federal Credit Union to serve airmen on McChord Air Force Base, Harborstone has grown into one of Washington State’s largest community-focused credit unions, with 26 branches throughout the Puget Sound region. The credit union has continued to expand through recent mergers and acquisitions, including its merger with Community 1st Credit Union and acquisitions of First Sound Bank and SaviBank, all while deepening its commitment to the communities it serves.
That community-first orientation runs through everything Harborstone does, from its partnership with Junior Achievement’s JA Finance Park to its support of military families. The partnership with Dream Publishing extends that work into the hands of young people across the region.
“At Harborstone, we believe that financial empowerment starts with the next generation, and the best way to reach young people is to meet them where they are,” said Hazelmae Overturf, Vice President of Impact, Harborstone Credit Union. “Start Young and Build Freedom does exactly that. It tells a real story, in a format teens actually want to engage with, about building the mindsets, habits, and skills that lead to financial freedom. We’re proud to put this book into the hands of families across the Puget Sound and to continue the work of showing up for our communities in meaningful ways.”
Start Young and Build Freedom is a 272-page illustrated 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. It is aligned with the Jump$tart Coalition National Standards for Personal Financial Education.
“Harborstone is an excellent fit for what we’re building at Dream Publishing,” said Simon Komlos, author and founder of Dream Publishing. “A credit union with deep roots in its community, a real commitment to financial empowerment, and a track record of investing in the people it serves.”
