Courtesy photo.
New program will provide education on financial topics to local teenagers
VENTURA COUNTY — Ventura County Credit Union and Premier America Foundation are partnering to bring financial education to teenagers through a series of local classes. This new program will give young people in Ventura County the opportunity to learn money management basics that will help them build a healthy financial future.
“Financial literacy makes a huge difference for young people as they begin their adult lives,” said Edith Campa, VCCU’s financial inclusion and education manager. “This program will provide an excellent foundation by introducing important financial topics, and giving teens an opportunity to practice the skills they’ve learned through a fun, hands-on simulation with real-life scenarios.”
Held once a month at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Oxnard and Port Hueneme in the Harriet H. Samuelsson Teen Center, these collaborative financial literacy sessions will provide free information to more than 40 adolescents. Topics covered include budgeting and savings, the difference between banks and credit unions, credit scores and reports, “Banking 101,” “Smart Money,” and beyond.
The lessons will culminate in “Bite of Reality,” an interactive, app-based simulation in which participants are given a fictional occupation, salary, credit score, family, student loan debt, credit card debt and medical insurance payments. Participants then walk around to various table-top stations to “purchase” housing, transportation, food, clothing and other essentials. The simulation also includes a “credit union” to help with financial needs.
“We couldn’t be happier to bring this program to our members,” said Erin Antrim, CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Oxnard and Port Hueneme. “It is such a wonderful opportunity for our teens to gain money management skills that will benefit them for the rest of their lives. Thank you to VCCU and Premier America Foundation for making it possible.”
In addition to providing financial education through this program and others, each year VCCU participates in and/or sponsors more than 500 local events and collaborates with numerous local businesses, schools and nonprofits to benefit the community.
Premier America Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting local organizations and providing financial empowerment programs and services for youth and young adults.
For more information about VCCU, visit http://www.vccuonline.net. To learn more about Premier America Foundation, go to https://www.premieramerica.com/premier-america-foundation.