WASHINGTON -
This check was the largest philanthropic gift ever presented on stage in the 88-year history of Junior Achievement (JA) Worldwide, during the organization's leadership conference here. The first full season of JA's Biz Kid$ is expected to begin airing on PBS TV stations during the fall of 2007.
The $5.2- million commitment from America's CUs will pay for production of two seasons-26 half-hour episodes-of the JA's Bix Kid$ TV series on PBS. It represents the largest philanthropic gift presented on stage in the 88-year history of JA Worldwide.
State credit union foundations and leagues are working with JA to package curriculum from the TV series that credit union volunteers will be able to use to provide multimedia youth financial education in classrooms.
Support from the credit union movement also has fostered the creation of a new interactive youth website where aspiring entrepreneurs can learn how to make money, manage money, and pitch their business ideas to become "Biz Kids."
Credit union supporters can contribute to JA's Biz Kid$ by going to the Washington Credit Union League's members site at www.waleague.org and clicking Biz Kid$, or visit the Biz Kid$ website at www.bizkids.com.
In related news, the New York Credit Union Foundation recently hosted a workshop at the New York State Credit Union League's Latham offices to discuss youth financial education.
Twenty representatives from New York credit unions, Junior Achievement state offices, the Foundation and JA Worldwide participated in the partnership event that looked at how the entities could develop a "best practice" statewide strategy that would bring sound financial education and economic empowerment to young people.
The partnership meeting began with an overview of the participating organizations, the National Endowment for Financial Education's (NEFE) new High School Financial Planning Program (HSFPP) and JA's Biz Kid$.
Group brainstorming activities on how each organization could work together to help achieve their mutual goals followed. Facilitating the workshop was Geoff Wilson from JA Worldwide headquarters in Colorado.
New York State is one of five pilot states working with JA Worldwide and (NEFE) to develop programs geared toward helping students understand personal finance.
The foundation is among more than 70 foundations, credit unions, leagues and service providers underwriting the JA's production of Biz Kid$, a PBS financial literacy program aimed at improving the financial literacy of elementary and middle school students.
