MADISON, Wis. – As a new school year begins, data from the 2008-09 academic term show credit unions helped make financial literacy presentations before 388,843 students.
In all, 12,652 total presentations were made despite the fact 19 fewer presenters reported data, according to the National Youth Involvement Board. The totals are gains of 3.9% and 12.5% over 2007-08 statistics (374,099 students in 11,245 classes). Averaged over five years, credit unions are posting annual increases of 12.9% in presentations and 16% in students reached, the NYIB reported.
“It is rewarding and inspiring to see credit union commitment to financial education remained through the economic downturn,” NYIB Chairman Brandon Pugh said. “Clearly our not-for-profit institutions understand young people cannot put interest in their financial futures on hold until things improve – and in fact are probably more teachable now.” Pugh added NYIB has established a goal of reaching 400,000 students during a school year.
Rachel Parrent of Vantage Credit Union in Bridgeton, Mo., conducted the most classroom presentations with 469, while Marsha Lunden of Desert Schools Credit Union in Phoenix, Ariz., reached the most students (15,038) in the 2008-09 reporting year.
