Community Involvement

Financial Literacy

• Money$mart

The Kansas credit unions have partnered with the Kansas State Treasurer's Office since 2004 to offer Money$mart, a financial management camp created specifically for Kansas middle school students. Money$mart is designed to offer middle school students training in sound personal financial philosophies and practices in a fun environment that enhances leadership and teamwork skills. Money$mart events have been held in Wichita, Topeka, Hutchinson, and El Dorado over the past year. To get more information about the Money$mart program and upcoming events, go to www.treasurer.state.ks.us and click on the “Personal Finance” link.

• Save@School

Save@School is a special program that joins Kansas credit unions and the State Treasurer's Office, and schools with the common goal of educating children so that they become educated consumers who will make responsible financial decisions in the future. Participants open savings accounts and make deposits to their accounts on scheduled savings days at their school. The students learn the importance of savings through hands-on experience. Kansas credit unions that participate in the program include Kansas State Federal Credit Union, Educational Credit Union, and Sunflower U.P. Federal Credit Union.

For more information on how to start your own Save at our School Program, visit www.treasurer.state.ks.us and click on the "Personal Finance" link.

• BizKid$

BizKid$ is a public television series underwritten by America’s Credit Unions that is dedicated to financial literacy for kids. It is a weekly 30-minute TV show by the Emmy award-winning creators of “Bill Nye the Science Guy.” The show is fun, fast-paced, and features compelling stories. BizKid$ airs on 311 of the nation's 343 PBS stations in 49 states—including all the PBS stations in Kansas. Check your local PBS station for viewing times. You can also check out the BizKid$ series online at www.bizkids.com.

Charitable Organizations

• Children’s Miracle Network

The Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) is a non-profit, charitable organization that is dedicated to raising funds for and awareness of children’s hospitals. Founded in 1983, CMN’s pledge is to keep 100 percent of donations in the area in which they were raised and to put children first in all it does. Credit Unions for Kids is a CMN fundraising campaign in which Kansas credit unions participate. The program works on several levels—credit union, chapter, and statewide. Credit unions are encouraged to raise funds individually and collectively, through partnerships at the chapter level and as a state.

• Safehome, Inc.

The WY-JO Chapter of Credit Unions, made up of credit unions in the Kansas City metropolitan area, have been committed supporters of Safehome, Inc., whose mission is to break the cycle of sexual and domestic violence and abuse. In addition to a 10-week shelter program for women offered by Safehome, Inc., services also include a specialized children's program at the shelter and outreach counseling services. Every year the WY-JO Chapter holds a basket auction, with all proceeds going to Safehome, Inc. 

• Homes for Our Troops

Homes for Our Troops is a non-partisan, non-profit organization that provides specially adapted homes for our severely injured service members. For the 2008 national party conventions, credit unions across the United States have partnered with Homes for Our Troops to build a home for a disabled veteran in each of the convention host cities: Denver, CO and Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN.

Each of these homes has required a committed effort on behalf of the credit union movement. In addition to volunteers and donated goods, credit unions have raised over $306,000 to cover the cost of items that need to be purchased, items such as land on which to build the home, materials, special equipment, etc.

Kansas credit unions exceeded their fundraising goal of $1300 to contribute over $3300 to this worthwhile program that will change the lives of the veterans who have already given so much to their country.