FORUM Credit Union has announced that it has earned first place for the Alphonse Desjardins Award for youth financial literacy in the $1 Billion+ asset size category in the Indiana statewide competition.
Created by CUNA (Credit Union National Association), the award is named after Alphonse Desjardins. Besides founding the first credit unions in Canada and the U.S., Desjardins pioneered youth savings clubs and in-school "banks," known as caisses scolaires. The award emphasizes the movement's long-time commitment to youth.
Plaques were presented to statewide winners at the ICUL (Indiana Credit Union League) Chairman’s Awards Banquet on Friday, October 3, as part of the League Convention. FORUM Chief Marketing and Community Officer, Kristi Lowell, accepted the award. FORUM’s entry focused on its robust educational program, targeted toward members at various life stages.
One program, My First Nest Egg (MFNE), focuses on educating FORUM's youngest members, those between the ages of three and thirteen. MFNE is a chore and allowance app that teaches children about earning, saving, and giving back. It includes a digital piggy bank, allowance, and chore tracking, as well as rewards, games, and calculators.
FORUM has incorporated this program into its overall financial education offerings, partnering with schools in the community and providing the educational tools to members and schools at no cost. By using all marketing channels, paid and unpaid, FORUM has shared financial education online, in branch locations, directly with educators, and via email campaigns to parents. Activity sheets, videos, worksheets, and infographics have been created in support of sharing important financial concepts with parents and children.
“Financial education is a shared community responsibility that FORUM is eager to contribute to. This project represents the credit union cooperative principle of Financial Education through collaboration with schools and the community at large to give parents and children engaging tools that teach important financial concepts,” said Kristi.
