Teens Learn Financial Skills at 2nd RCU Financial Literacy Academy

April 8, 2010 - PRLog -- Redwood Credit Union (RCU) partnered with the Santa Rosa School District to offer their 2nd free 16-hour academy on financial literacy for local high school students. Using the High School Financial Planning Program (HSFPP) created by the National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE), the program covered helpful topics such as budgeting, financial planning, saving and investing, credit and debt management and other life skills related to managing money. A total of 22 students attended the spring course, which was taught by Steve Weis, an Elsie Allen High School teacher. Several guest speakers from RCU’s staff also presented on a wide variety of topics ranging from the time-value of money to protecting your assets with insurance.

Students, parents and several local lawmakers attended a celebratory lunch and graduation ceremony held on the final day of the Academy, including Santa Rosa City Mayor Susan Gorin, 5th District Sonoma County Supervisor Efren Carrillo, Superintendent Dr. Sharon Liddell of Santa Rosa City Schools and Jessica Diaz representing Shirlee Zane, 3rd District Sonoma County Supervisor. Speakers at the ceremony included Mayor Gorin, RCU Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Anne Benjamin, and Sonoma County Supervisor Efren Carrillo, who formerly served as Redwood Credit Union’s Education Manager.

“Redwood Credit Union is passionately committed to financial literacy and we believe money management skills learned at a young age are beneficial for a lifetime,” said Lee Alderman, Assistant Vice President of Educational Development. “We’re pleased that our Financial Literacy Academies are generating such a positive response from students and their parents,” Alderman added, noting that the Credit Union’s vision is to eventually see financial management education included as a high school graduation requirement for California schools.

RCU offers many financial literacy and outreach programs for all ages, and hosts a variety of free educational seminars and events for their Members and the community throughout the year. For a list of current seminar offerings, dates and times and to RSVP online, visit www.redwoodcu.org/seminars.

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Redwood Credit Union (RCU) is a full-service not-for-profit financial cooperative serving San Francisco and the North Bay. The $1.7 Credit Union was established in 1950 and serves nearly 150,000 Members. Visit www.redwoodcu.org for more information.