Maine credit unions receive national youth education award for 14th consecutive year

PORTLAND — The Maine Credit Union League recently received its 14th consecutive national Desjardins Award for Youth Financial Education from the Credit Union National Association, the league announced in a news release.

“With Maine’s credit unions reaching more than 17,000 Maine high school students, including nearly 7,000 through one of the Financial Fitness – Money Management Experience Fairs, during the 2015/16 school year, the commitment of Maine’s credit unions to helping Maine students to better understand personal finance and money management is stronger than ever,” the release said.

The judges were impressed by the longevity that Maine’s credit unions have been at youth financial education. “The work of Maine’s credit unions with youth financial education remains a model for others,” the judges said. “Maine’s credit unions, with the support of the Maine Credit Union League, are doing some really impressive work in helping Maine students to better understand money management. We congratulate Maine credit unions for making a difference in the lives of 17,000-plus Maine youth.”

Jon Paradise, vice president of governmental and public affairs for the Maine Credit Union League, said, “Nearly every Maine credit union is involved and engaged in youth financial education, either through one of the many fairs that took place last year, and/or going into classrooms to teach students basic money concepts. We are making progress but we know we have a long way to go. The payoff benefits us all because youth who understand money management overwhelmingly tend to be better and more savvy consumers as adults.”

With April being National Credit Union Youth Month, Paradise said this month will see an even greater focus on youth financial education. “Most Maine credit unions will be holding special events and activities to help not only young members with personal finance but to educate parents on ways in which they can help their children improve their financial literacy.”

Founded in 1938, the Maine Credit Union League represents 58 credit unions with 685,000 members, providing a variety of services and products to assist credit unions in meeting the needs of their membership.

For more information, visit www.mainecul.org.