Press
NWCUA’s Danielle Brown Accepts National Role in Taking Biz Kid$ to Next Level
August 15, 2011
Contact: Christopher Morris
608-231-4374 | cmorris@ncuf.coop
Madison, Wis. – After a 15-year career helping to lead regional credit union trade associations, Danielle Brown is stepping up to contract with the National Credit Union Foundation (NCUF). The Northwest Credit Union Association’s Vice President and Executive Director of the Oregon Foundation will begin her engagement on September 1st.
Brown has contracted with NCUF to act as the national coordinator of Biz Kid$, the Emmy Award winning and credit union funded public television series that teaches kids about money management and entrepreneurship. She will be promoting Biz Kid$ within the credit union movement to establish it as the premier financial literacy delivery mechanism for middle school students. She will be responsible for the planning, growth, and enhancement of the fundraising efforts, the implementation and use by credit unions in their local classrooms, and the monitoring and evaluation of the program.
“I’m excited about the opportunity,” reflected Brown. “Biz Kid$ speaks to its audience in such an effective way, in a way a typical school workbook can’t. The beauty of it is that it is so well produced.”
The Washington Credit Union Foundation this June transitioned the Biz Kid$ project administration on behalf of credit unions to the National Credit Union Foundation so that the program could achieve even greater national reach and prominence. NCUF’s resources will provide additional marketing and promotional focus.
Biz Kid$ is broadcast on nearly all Public Broadcast Stations and has produced four complete television seasons. Filming and production of Season 5 episodes began at the North Seattle-based production studio on July 26th. Fundraising is now underway for the new season which, upon completion, would position the show for national daily syndication, Brown said. If enough episodes for syndication are produced, it will likely ensure that the curriculum will be picked up in more classrooms across America.
“Biz Kid$ has such a rich tradition,” remarked RoxAnne Kruger, Senior Vice President at the NWCUA. “That will grow and continue, and with Danielle’s leadership working with state Foundations and trade associations across the country, the groundwork laid here in the northwest can only blossom more.”
Brown expects Biz Kid$ to continue a primary focus on the credit union culture, particularly since credit unions are the sole underwriter of the program.
Her professional experience touches nearly every aspect of credit union management. Prior to the merger of the Credit Union Association of Oregon with the Washington Credit Union League, Brown performed in the role of a consultant, a compliance officer, Director of Education, and Chief Financial Officer for Credit Union Association of Oregon. She assisted with the merger transition in her role as an NWCUA Vice President, while holding the reigns as Executive Director of the Oregon Credit Union Foundation.
“Danielle is perfectly suited to this new role,” said Bucky Sebastian, NCUF Executive Director. “All of us at NCUF are excited to work with her to further leverage Biz Kid$ and raise awareness of financial literacy and entrepreneurship across the country.”
“There is a lot of opportunity to get Biz Kid$ into local schools and communities,” Brown added, and “I am happy to be part of making it happen.”
For more information about Biz Kid$, click here
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About the Northwest Credit Union Association (nwcua.org):
The Northwest Credit Union Association is the not-for-profit trade association serving Oregon and Washington’s 200 credit unions and their 4.2 million members. The NWCUA is the voice of the Northwest credit union movement, providing legislative, regulatory and public advocacy in addition to education, compliance, networking support and business solutions to its members. For information on how to join a credit union, please visit www.asmarterchoice.org.
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 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 a real impact in the credit union community.
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.