Unitus CCU sponsors Junior Achievement to boost students’ financial skills
Unitus pledges funds, volunteers to help 6,000 middle and high school students learn and apply the financial skills they need to succeed in the modern economy
PORTLAND, OR (March 1, 2019) — In another effort to increase youth financial literacy, Unitus is sponsoring Junior Achievement of Oregon and Southwest Washington JA Finance Park®.
As a Business Sponsor, Unitus will help fund and volunteer for Junior Achievement’s flagship financial literacy program, JA Finance Park. The program will help thousands of 7-12th grade students across 21 school districts learn the basics of financial literacy, including budgeting, investing, and managing risk.
The experience begins in the classroom, with a 12-lesson curriculum taught by their teacher covering a range of financial topics such as saving and investing, taxes and salary, personal budgeting and career goals. After the instruction, students will enter the JA Finance Park. This high-tech mobile exhibit offers a realistic simulation experience that calls on students to use their knowledge to create a balanced household budget in a real-world setting. Here, students will leave behind their lives as middle and high school students to “become adults” for the day, taking on fictional career and life scenarios, and managing expenses for housing, childcare, healthcare, groceries, and more.
“We could not be more excited to partner with Junior Achievement to further our mission to educate our youth on the fundamentals of budgeting, saving, and managing money,” said Laurie Kresl, Chief Marketing Officer of Unitus. “Mastering these skills early enables them to take control of their finances and make positive financial choices throughout their lives.”
In addition to their sponsorship, Unitus employees are excited to work alongside the students, sharing their own financial knowledge and leading discussions about the students’ vision for their financial futures. Unitus Community Development Officer Aimee Berg is currently recruiting Unitus financial professionals to volunteer as coaches during the Finance Park’s traveling tour. The tour began November 5, 2018 in Klamath Falls and will end May 16, 2019 in Portland, stopping at various areas in between.
About Unitus Community Credit Union
At Unitus, we’re dedicated to improving lives in the communities we serve. As a member-owned local credit union, we invest in people by doing the right thing. Through partnerships with nonprofit organizations, we provide support for community groups through volunteerism and financial donations. Our 105,000 members count on us to serve them and their communities; our 300+ employees share that passion for service. Learn about the local impact Unitus makes by visiting unitusccu.com.
