Kachina Elementary and Arizona Central Credit Union partner for financial education
GLENDALE, AZ (May 25, 2018) — In an effort to teach children about the importance of saving for their future, Kachina Elementary School, a K-8 school in the Peoria Unified School District, launched the Money Masters 9 week elective class for 3rd, 4th and 5th graders. In partnership with Kachina Elementary School, Arizona Central Credit Union is proud to facilitate Andson, Inc.’s Piggy Bank Program.
Arizona Central Credit Union has created a student-friendly membership for this program to manage the banking piece of the program. The aim of the Piggy Bank program is to teach children good savings habits to ultimately develop the skills to make independent financial choices and manage their money effectively. Janet Moodie, Senior Vice President & Chief Operating Officer of Arizona Central Credit Union, said, “We wanted to do something different that would forever impact a child’s life. It’s rewarding when we interact with students every week and witness them setting goals and saving money. This partnership is having a positive effect on these students by developing life-long savings habits.” The lessons center on wants v. needs; setting goals; budgeting and planning.
Arizona Central Credit Union is the first financial institution in the State of Arizona to sponsor the Piggy Bank program and is committed to improving the financial literacy of the children at Kachina Elementary School. The curriculum, Andson Money is generated by Andson Inc., and based on common core standards in English Language Arts, Math, and Social Studies/Economics. Research from Center for Social Development at Washington University, in St. Louis has found that “Children with a college savings account are up to seven times more likely to attend college than those without an account.”
The curriculum also includes interactive lessons and in-class discussions to keep the subject fresh and engaging to students. The Credit Union employees volunteer their time to physically bring the credit union to the students at Kachina Elementary weekly. Students are then introduced to a ‘branch’ experience. Employees teach them how to fill out their deposit slips, and how to keep track of how much money they are saving in their deposit booklet. Todd Pearson, Arizona Central Credit Union President & Chief Executive Officer states, “Our commitment to financial education is a primary focus in our community involvement initiatives. We’re proud to bring this program to these students and look forward to making it available to every student at Kachina Elementary School.
Developing regular savings habits now will provide these students a solid foundation throughout their lives. And, we are excited about having these kids as members of Arizona Central Credit Union for a very long time.”
About Arizona Central Credit Union
Founded in 1939, Arizona Central Credit Union is a not-for-profit, full-service, financial institution that is locally owned and operated by its members. Serving over 55,000 members and with current assets exceeding $400 million, Arizona Central is backed by a -78 year tradition of financial strength, stability and service. Deposits up to $250,000 are federally insured by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA). To learn more, visit azcentralcu.org
About Kachina Elementary School
Grades: K – 8
Principal: Landa Tartaglio- Assistant Principal: Jim Wisener Start time: 8:00 a.m. Dismissal time: 3:00 p.m. Enrollment: 500 – Year built: 1976 Achievement Profile: A Rating https://www.peoriaunified.org/kachina
About Andson, Inc.
Andson, Inc. is a local nonprofit 501(c) (3) organization dedicated to improving the education level of students by delivering financial literacy programming and academic intervention. Since inception in 2009, the Team has developed innovative, targeted programs, emphasizing personal success and social mobility to over 60,000 youth across Southern Nevada. For more information on Andson Inc., please visit www.andson.org, facebook.com/andsonfoundation and twitter.com/andson_org.
About Peoria Unified School District
Planning much of the Northwest Valley, the Peoria Unified School District is located in Glendale, Peoria, Surprise and Youngtown, Arizona. The district has a rich tradition of excellence, serving the community since 1889. Peoria Unified is one of the largest unified school districts in Arizona and prides itself on excelling schools, award-winning teachers, high test scores, career and technical education programs, specialized Choice Programs, free all-day kindergarten and championship athletic programs. The district serves more than 36,000 students in 34 elementary schools, seven high schools and one non-traditional high school. In addition, Peoria Unified is proud to be the first district in the state to receive the prestigious AdvancED Accreditation. https://www.peoriaunified.org
