Youth Initiatives

Youth Week 2008 Success Stories

Fort Sill FCU Click for larger view

Fort Sill Federal Credit Union
Rhiannon Biggs

Our Youth Week winner of $100, at Fort Sill Federal Credit Union, is shaking hands with CEO Denise Floyd.

Oregon Community Credit Union
Cherie Kistner

Each of the Oregon Community Credit Union’s 14 branches will hold a “Deposit” contest for anyone under the age of 18 who makes a deposit into their Oregon Community Credit Union account. Branches will also hold coloring contests and host group tours; credit union employees will also visit schools and community centers to teach children the importance of saving at a young age.

The credit union is offering an interactive website for children to set savings goals, play games, and learn essential banking terms. CUNA’s theme, “Got green? Grow it at Your Credit Union,” opens a window of opportunity to teach children the importance of banking and environmental sustainability, keeping in mind that Earth Day falls during Youth Savings Week. Prizes will be awarded for the deposit and coloring contests.

Old West Federal Credit Union
Katie Wilson

We had three planned activities, cookies and punch, and a ‘filler’ activity just in case one group ran over the allotted time. Each class was split into two or three groups to conserve time. One group toured the different departments, the vault, and ‘the brains’ of Old West Federal Credit Union (the computer room); while another planted seeds and were asked to think about how this activity could relate to a credit union.

The excursion ended with an interactive teaching session showing kids how saving even a penny adds up to big money. We also talked about ways they could earn money while being green. The spare moments were filled with a guessing game. We packed OWFCU water bottles with candy, trinkets, and money. The boy and girl whose estimate was closest to the actual amount in the bottle won the whole shebang. We had approximately 167 kids from our county schools visit over two days. Thanks to all who helped put the events together and led the activities, especially to the teachers, helpers, schools, and children for taking the time to visit (Humbolt Elementary, Prairie City Elementary, and Dayville School). We had a blast and look forward to continued success with this annual celebration.

Rogue Federal Credit Union
Kerrie Davis

Rogue Federal Credit Union celebrated our youth in many. We hosted a total of five field trips for five first-grade classes. There were about 60 students that came through for three days. They were able to help in drive-up, see the vault, help members, and sit in the CEO’s chair! They were also entertained with the Money Mammals DVD on Sharing, Saving and Spending Smart! The kids left with a bag full of snacks, savings activity books, and a prize. For the Savings challenge we had over 211 deposits made during the week and 15 new memberships open. Our youth saved over $33,192. Other activities included:

• 12 money management seminars for youth in our communities
• 18 students graduated from the Credit Union Succeed class for 15-18 year-olds
• Movie night at Phoenix Elementary School. Over 200 parents and kids watched Alvin and the Chipmunks, ate snacks, and enjoyed the evening. There were two drawings for an exclusive Alvin t-shirt and a $25 Barnes and Nobel gift certificate.

Cutting Edge FCU Click for larger view

Cutting Edge FCU Click for larger view

Cutting Edge Federal Credit Union
Ginger Baehr

Cutting Edge Federal Credit Union celebrated National Credit Union Youth Week with a special youth event on Tuesday at their Lewiston, ID, branch and on Thursday at their Milwaukie, OR, branch. Kids had fun with different games that included a Money Walk, Cash Bingo, Coin Bowling and Guess How Much $$$ was stuffed into a green piggy bank. They got tattooed with special Got GREEN? tattoos, put together money puzzles, played with money flash cards, created coin fortune tellers, and worked on money skills worksheets.

Current youth members who deposited money into their account during Youth Week had their deposit matched by the credit union up to $10. New youth members who joined anytime during the month of April received their $10 opening share from Cutting Edge Federal Credit Union. At the end of the week, Cutting Edge FCU opened 36 new youth accounts and had 106 deposits made by kids that totaled $4,225.09!

Horizon Federal Credit Union
Judy Harris

Horizon FCU Click for larger view

Horizon FCU Click for larger view

We are helping our young members 'plant the seeds' for their future by having them entered in the National Youth Savings Challenge, and giving all of our youth flower seed packets, board games, small change fortune teller games, and Fingerprint/DNA Kits.

In addition, to the younger members-coloring books and our older kids -hackey sack balls and flashing light globe strobe green buttons. We are holding a coloring contest in each of our office with two age categories, in which the winners receive money.

Any new kid’s accounts that are opened will receive:

• Ages 0-12 a Frog Bank, our mascot for our Money Bags Kids Club
• Ages 13 and up will be entered into a drawing for a Lycoming Mall gift card

And at the end of the week, Friday, we will be presenting certificates to our winners of our TWO, yes two $500 scholarships. This is our third year for our scholarship, and I feel that it has helped us teach our young members more about the credit union and it being the place to say, “I Belong!” We are proud of our youth accounts and being able to help our kids know how and where to save.

Shown are 'future deposits' two of our staff members who are expecting babies! Tanya Vought (right) is due next month and Alisha Hess (left) due in August! Way to go Horizon to grow new youth accounts!

Service 1st Federal Credit Union
Missy Peifer

Service 1st FCU Click for larger view

In recognition of Earth Week, April 20 - 26, Service 1st Federal Credit Union has partnered with several groups to bring "green" events and savings to Danville. Service 1st has teamed Earth Week events up with National Credit Union Youth Week in order to spread the important message of being financially savvy as well as environmentally friendly.

Youth Savings Challenge. We'll show how small change can lead to both saving for the future and saving the environment. Achieving economic prosperity is difficult. It's especially hard for young people who've never learned how to manage money. Service 1st is ideally positioned to respond because we believe in the power of education.

Clearview Federal Credit Union
Ben Thompson

Clearview FCU Click for larger view

Clearview FCU Click for larger view

Clearview Federal Credit Union is currently celebrating National Credit Union Youth Week at all nine of its branches with refreshments, giveaways and prizes. In conjunction with the National Youth Savings Challenge, any youth age 18 and under making a deposit into their account during this week will receive a Presidential Dollar Coin and be entered to win a $100 cash prize. Everyone visiting a Clearview branch during the week can also enter to win several prizes, including an iPod Nano and a Cricket Wireless Kyocera Lingo phone. Each branch also has a large jar of pennies for visitors to guess the amount of its contents, with the closest guess winning the jar.

Erie Federal Credit Union
Sandi Carangi

Erie FCU Click for larger view

Erie FCU Click for larger view

In celebration of National Credit Union Youth Week, Erie Federal Credit Union employees are volunteering through the Junior Achievement program to teach students about the importance of saving. Seven credit union employees have visited nine schools this month to teach nearly 400 students.

In addition, all youth at each school received a water bottle and a $5 coupon to open a new savings account at the credit union. The re-useable water bottle was given to teach the importance of reducing waste by eliminating the millions of store-bought pre-filled water bottles that are filling our landfills.

At each of our branches, employees are distributing the CUNA $100 savings bills that teach youth how to set savings goals by saving money each week. In addition, each child receives the CUNA coloring page and crayons, a chance to win the $100 Youth Savings Challenge giveaway, and prizes from our Treasure Chests when they make a deposit into their savings account.

Parkview Community Federal Credit Union
Lechelle Brown

Parkview Community Federal Credit Union, McKeesport, PA, celebrated National Credit Union Youth Week by giving away PCFCU water bottles filled with candy and gifts to youth who opened new accounts. Youth who deposit $5 or more into a new or existing account were entered into a drawing to receive a $25 Toys R Us gift card and received educational literature filled with ideas on how to save money as well as the environment. The youth also enjoyed food and refreshments at the end of the week. Parkview Community Federal Credit Union opened 11 new youth accounts and took in over $10,400 in deposits during the week.

Beaver Valley Federal Credit Union
Jeryl DeBona

Beaver Valley FCU Click for larger view

We had a successful week and a fantastic Friday celebrating our first National Youth Week at Beaver Valley Federal Credit Union!! We surpassed our goals with number of deposits – 404% of goal and total deposited – 262% of goal. Our youth members made 194 deposits totaling $7,851. The number of new youth accounts was 17 – 47% of our set goal.

Both offices had an area decorated in a garden theme, with a flower planting activity in a wheelbarrow, wagons and flower pots full of juice boxes and snacks, and a coloring corner. Pencils, memo pads, and lollipops all with $$ decals were also distributed out of garden themed buckets, pails, and watering cans. The children and their parents received educational brochures provided by CUNA, which were age appropriate and appreciated by the parents. A decorated drawing box contained names of youth members who made deposits during the week; four of these lucky members received $100 US Savings Bonds. Our youth members (and our staff) had a great time.

CUNA’s mailings and web site made it easy to prepare for this worthwhile event. Along with the encouragement from our board of directors and cooperation from the office staff, it was a successful week. We are looking forward to next year’s event.

Timberline FCU Click for larger view

Timberland Federal Credit Union
Jordan Lydick

For youth week we gave away prizes for any youth making a deposit or opening an account. We also held a drawing for any youth to win a “Summer Survival Pack” full of everything you need to get through the dog days of summer. Our winner was Genesis Kacsmar, who also joined Timberland during Youth Week.

Erie General Electric Federal Credit Union
Angela Frantz

The Erie General Electric Federal Credit Union held a week-long celebration during National Credit Union Youth Week with the “Got Green? Grow it at your Credit Union!” theme. Each branch was decorated with displays, and the credit union hosted a Membership and Change Drive throughout the week at a different location each day. Radio station, WXTA Country 98, was live with the prize wheel and had broadcasts every half-hour to encourage young members to come to the credit union. Youth received gift bags with a “Share, Save, Spend” coloring book, crayons, temporary tattoos, balloons, and a coin holder keychain, and special prizes were given to new members.

The credit union also held a treasure hunt with a grand prize of $250 for finding the hidden key, with daily clues posted in the local newspaper. Maggie C., 13 years old, was the grand prize winner and $240 richer! She received $200 for finding the key, and $40 for answering four out of the five financial literacy questions correctly. The key was hidden at the Tom Ridge Environmental Center located at Presque Isle within the “Birds through Binoculars” exhibit.

The credit union also had a “Next Recycling Rock Star” contest that asked kids to use their imagination and creativity to reuse throw-away items around the house to make a personalized bank to save cash! The banks were displayed and the winners were announced at the annual meeting on Saturday, April 26, to conclude Youth Week. The three toy prizes were geared towards nature and the planet, such as the Live Butterfly Treehouse, Wild Planet Hyper Dash and Eyeclops Bionic Eye (mega magnifier that hooks up to your TV).

The credit union exceeded its Youth Week goals with 11 new youth accounts opened, 536 deposits made by members under age 18 in the total amount of $24,913.87. We had projected 10 new accounts opened with 150 deposits in the total amount of $15,000.