Sammy Rabbit Pairs with Library of Congress Federal Credit Union for National Book Festival in D.C.

Sept. 25, 2009 - PRLog -- Penny Wise Rabbit Pairs with Library of Congress Federal Credit Union
for National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C.  September 26, 2009—Los Angeles-based author and financial literacy advocate for children and their families, Sam X Renick will be among over 70 authors and illustrators joining the spectacular lineup for the ninth annual National Book Festival.
Held at the National Mall, the festival includes books in categories such as Children’s authors, Teen authors, History and Biography authors, and more, and is free and open to the public.
Renick, founder of It’s A Habit! Company, Inc., (IAHC) will be joined by his storybook character Sammy “the get in the habit rabbit” for a day of stories, songs, and lessons on ways to be financially savvy.
“It is an absolute delight for Sammy Rabbit and me to assist organizations like the Library of Congress Federal Credit Union. They share our passion and enthusiasm for promoting financial education to families and encourage reading in the process,” said Renick.  “We are proud to serve organizations that provide moms, dads, teachers, and trainers tools that make their respective jobs easier and empower children in the process. The more we can do to help strengthen families by making strategic education available and accessible to them, the better.”
Utilizing a booth sponsored by the Library of Congress Federal Credit Union, Renick and Sammy will be making their third appearance at the festivities held in the National Mall. Holding the distinction of being the only financial educator for kids and their families at the festival, Renick and Sammy Rabbit will perform live three times throughout the day in an effort to teach the importance of saving money and making wise financial decisions that will empower them in the future.
Since 2001, Renick and IAHC has earned a national reputation for developing and delivering dynamic and strategic financial education programs and products that feature its main character, Sammy Rabbit.  The company developed and owns one of the world’s largest musical financial education collections, including its signature songs Get in the Habit, Anyone Can Be Rich, and S-A-V-E.
With numerous national awards, honors, and merits, IAHC is a pioneer in the movement towards greater financial literacy for children and consequently their families. With ongoing partnerships with organizations such as the Air Force Aid Society Financial Outreach Initiative, and the Department of Defense’s National Financial Road Shows, IAHC continues to pave the way for raised financial proficiency in the nation’s youth.
Since its first live author and character performance in 2002, Sam and Sammy Rabbit have actively toured promoting financial education and reading in six countries and thirty states to more than 250,00 students, parents, and educators.
With an ever increasing desire to positively impact the nation’s children, IAHC continues to encourage financial savvy through the company’s motto: “Changing children’s lives one dime at a time!”
                  
For more information on IAHC, upcoming appearances, and available resource tools please contact:
Sam X Renick, Founder
It’s a Habit! Company, Inc.
323-223-1522
http://www.itsahabit.com
About Sam X Renick and It’s a Habit! (IAHC)
It's a Habit! Company Inc. (IAHC) was co-created in 1998 by Sam X Renick in an effort to promote and encourage financial literacy in children. The Los Angeles micro-enterprise is dedicated to teaching financial literacy and other empowering life skills and habits, with a primary focus on young children and their families.  

Renick, a former financial adviser turned award wining author, songwriter and social entrepreneur, was first struck with the idea when numerous clients expressed their disappointment at not learning financial prowess at an earlier age.  After repeatedly hearing the same lamentations from his clients, Renick began writing It’s a Habit, Sammy Rabbit! with assistance from his Financial and Insurance Services partner Alonso Silva Jr.  Sam and Alonso later teamed up with illustrator Juan Alvarado and former Disney graphic designer, Carlos Rodriguez to form IAHC.

A graduate of Loyola Marymount University with a degree in Business, Renick has partnered with the Air Force Aid Society to bring financial awareness and saving strategies to the forefront of children’s minds. He spent the previous twelve years working for TRW and SAIC in subcontract and project management, where he became intimately familiar with the design and development process. As a result of immediately practicing the “from every dollar save a dime” philosophy, Sam was able to change careers twice, first in 1993 to start his own financial and insurance consulting firm, and later to form IAHC in 1998.

The mission of IAHC is to globally provide children, families, and organizations with strategic tools that encourage the multiplication of good habits, especially saving money. Along with original songs and coloring books, IAHC uses mascot Sammy Rabbit to instill in young children the importance of financial know-how.

About Sammy Rabbit
Sammy ‘the get in the habit’ Rabbit is a friend, families love and learn with. Through his story book adventures, songs, sayings, and skits at live appearances, Sammy inspires kids, trainers, and educators of all ages, but particularly kids ages 4 to 8, to start positive habits like saving money, reading, writing; to become leaders of themselves; and to make BIG DREAMS come true for themselves and their families. Two of Sammy’s favorite strategic sayings are: Saving is a great habit! From every dollar, save a dime!

Key IAHC / Sammy Highlights
Ongoing:   8 Years Touring, 6 Countries, 30 States, Reading, Singing, Dancing, Conducting Interactive Skits to 250,000+ Students, Parents, Educators, Etc.
Ongoing:   Key Partner Air Force Aid Society Financial Education Outreach Initiative
Ongoing:    Partner DoD Financial Road Shows
Ongoing:    Featured Military Saves Website
Various:    Featured Business Week Online; Kiplinger’s, Motley Fool, etc.
Sep 09:    University of Maryland Cooperative Extension Educator Receives National Award for Use of Sammy Program, Products
Apr 09:   Inducted onto Loyola Marymount University Entrepreneurs Wall of Honor
Sep 08:   Institute of Financial Literacy Children's Book of the Year Award
May 08:   University of Maryland Cooperative Extension Evaluation Reflects Student and Teacher Improvement from Sammy Program, Products
Oct 07:    California Jumpstart Coalition Leadership Award Winner
Jul 07:   Texas Teens Win National Gold Medal Using Sammy Books, Music
Jul 06:   Received Highest Rating, “5 Doves,” from Dove Family Foundation for Mission 1: Celebrate Saving! Music CD
Oct 05:   Launched the nation’s first “Rock, Read, and Save for College” Tour
Nov 04:   Richard Myles Johnson Beacon Award Nominee
Apr 02:   National Jumpstart Coalition Soaring Star Nominee
Apr 01:   Los Angeles Proclaims It’s a Habit, Savings Day

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The It's a Habit Company, Inc. is dedicated to teaching financial literacy and other empowering life skills and habits in a strategic manner.