Feb. 23, 2010
 

Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Northeast Iowa in Waterloo was awarded funding for a program called Student MoneyMap. This program teaches money management skills to over 5,000 high school and college students. Curriculum touches on topics such as budgeting, managing a checking account, home ownership, avoiding credit card delinquency and establishing good credit.

Another recipient of the Financial Education Grant was the Waterloo Neighborhood Economic Development Corporation for their Micro-Enterprise Project. The program encourages entrepreneurship in the Consolidated Urban Revitalization Area (CURA) of Waterloo. Funding will allow the organization to provide to the entrepreneur, financial guidance, including pairing with a local Certified Public Accountant and financial assistance for workshops and classes.

Waverly-Shell Rock Junior High School received funding for their Go Hawks In Action program. This financial education program includes two units of study. The Financial Literacy Unit focuses on traditional financial education topics such as check writing, savings and spending plans, identity theft and career exploration. The Entrepreneurship Unit allows students to learn about marketing a product and writing a business plan by managing two classroom based businesses: Go Hawk Sweet Treats and Go Hawk Gear.

Des Moines Citizens for Community Improvement was awarded funding for their program called Back To Basic Financial Education. The program targets families affected by the housing crises, helping them rebuild their financial stability. This six-week financial education course focuses on topics such as how to read a credit report, understanding credit scores and how to repair and rebuild credit.

Iowa Homeless Youth Centers, also in Des Moines, was another recipient for their Financial Coaching program. The organization provides free services to runaway and homeless youth and families. This program uses curriculum which blends fundamental coaching skills with strong financial content to help participants realize the financial realities of independent living.

The final recipient of the Financial Education Grant is Lincoln High School in Des Moines. The school received funding for their Personal Finance program. The course provides project-based lessons designed to help students develop financial literacy and life-long financial responsibility. Students will gain hands-on opportunities such as completing his or her own personal tax returns to file with the IRS and the Iowa Department of Revenue.

Veridian Credit Union, founded in 1934 in Waterloo, Iowa, is a not-for-profit financial cooperative owned by its members. The credit union offers a full range of consumer financial services and employs more than 500 Iowans throughout 24 branches. For more information, visit www.veridiancu.org or call (800) 235-3228.

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For Immediate Release
February 23, 2010

Photos Available:

Photo A: Veridian Credit Union’s Financial Education Grant supported programming for Consumer Credit Counseling Services. Pictured (left to right) are Rory McLearn with Consumer Credit Counseling, Sherry Etringer, human resources specialist for Veridian and Kent Baldwin, also with Consumer Credit Counseling.

Photo B: Waverly-Shell Rock Junior High School received funding from Veridian Credit Union’s Financial Education Grant. Beth Fanter (left), senior loan officer at Veridian is pictured next to Waverly-Shell Rock Junior High School’s Kristie Kuhse.

Photo C: The Waterloo Neighborhood Economic Development Corporation was awarded funding from Veridian Credit Union's Financial Education Grant. Pictured are (left to right) Randy Pilkington, Jim Carstensen, Martin Foster, Jalloh Abubakarr, Janice Holmes, Jons Olson and Drew Conrad, all representing the Waterloo Neighborhood Economic Development Corporation, and Mike Mangin, lending supervisor, representing Veridian.

Photo D: Lincoln High School in Des Moines received Financial Education Grant funding from Veridian Credit Union. Lincoln High School representatives Sue Krantman and Albert Graziano (right) are pictured with Kristin Melhus, branch supervisor at Veridian.

Photo E: Veridian Credit Union’s Financial Education Grant funding was awarded to Des Moines Citizens for Community Improvement. Pictured (left to right) are Sharon Zanders-Ackiss and Hilary Mitchell, representing Des Moines Citizens for Community Improvement and Kristin Melhus, branch supervisor at Veridian.

Photo F: Veridian Credit Union’s Financial Education Grant was also awarded to Iowa Homeless Youth Centers, represented by Jill Perry (left) who is pictured with Kristin Melhus, branch supervisor at Veridian Credit Union.