Credit unions and financial education go hand-in-hand. In fact, one of the seven credit union cooperative principles is education, training, and information for members and communities. We can all agree that it's one of the most significant and impactful ways that credit unions set themselves apart from other financial institutions.
Ten years ago, the Washington Credit Union Foundation spearheaded a nationwide, collaborative fundraising effort to cement credit unions' leadership in financial education. The participating credit unions in this effort invested and funded the original production of the youth financial education television series, Biz Kid$.
Biz Kid$ is an Emmy Award-winning, national financial literacy initiative that teaches kids about money and business. Biz Kid$ is designed to engage the younger generation and get them excited about financial literacy and their financial futures.
That unified vision and collaboration of the original funders has led to a dynamic 65-episode series that has been viewed by more than 77 million people and has reached more than 10.8 million parents, educators, and students through documented education outreach projects. In an average year, Biz Kid$ reaches 9.6 million viewers across the United States.
Biz Kid$ is more than just a television show for kids, it is a well-developed brand that can be leveraged to make financial education tools and information more accessible to credit unions, students, and teachers everywhere. It is the only credit union-funded, syndicated youth financial education program.
Biz Kid$ is shown on PBS and is produced by Jamie Hammond, who is well-respected and known in educational television programming, having produced Bill Nye the Science Guy. Biz Kid$ is teaching kids about money in a similar way that Bill Nye taught kids about science.
Is there any better cause than assuring our nation's youth are financially literate? A startling 47% of Americans couldn't come up with $400 in an emergency unless they used credit or sold something they own; how do we prevent this? Educating the next generation about money management will change their financial futures, and change their lives.
Now it's time to rejuvenate the original credit union $14 million investment to keep Biz Kid$ fresh, timely and vibrant. Please continue to help the credit union system lead in this area and help sponsor production of Season 6 of Biz Kid$. Go to
Gigi Hyland is Executive Director of the National Credit Union Foundation.
