As part of an ongoing effort to educate youth in making sound financial decisions Directions Credit Union has partnered with local financial institutions.
Originated by the North West Chapter Credit Union the life size game Finances 101 was recreated by the National Endowment for Financial Education Program. The revamped game was made possible by a grant from the Ohio Credit Union Foundation.
For the past three years Directions Credit Union has sponsored the volunteer program dedicated to educating high school children about life’s financial questions about everything from purchasing a home or automobile and balancing a budget to include basic necessities like groceries and utilities.
“Local banks are my best partners in educating about finances. I couldn’t do it with their support,”said Jenni Paramore, Community Outreach Education Coordinator for Directions Credit Union in Mansfield.
On Wednesday, October 2 volunteers from Directions Credit Union, Mechanics Bank and Richland Bank took the life-sized financial education game to the children at Richland Juvenile Detention Center.
The game was set up in the cafeteria. As part of the game’s process, each child was given a job and a family and set forth to travel each station doing all the things adults must do such as purchasing a home, an automobile, groceries and utilities.
The game is comprised of twelve stations designed to educate the students in the fundamental decisions they would face as an adult raising a family. Designed to be as realistic as it is educational, the students experience the basics like having a job and a salary to work with in order to budget housing costs, and living expenses that includes utilities, groceries and daycare. And just as in the real world, unexpected expenses such as automobile are included.
The goal of the game according to Paramore is to educate the students in what finances are all about and to do it in a fun, positive and engaging way.
“The volunteers enjoy the process just as much as the students, they really love being involved and making a difference,” said Paramore.
Paramore shared email responses from volunteers.
Kathleen Spitler, a volunteer and bank teller from the Ashland Road Richland Bank wrote, ”I really enjoyed this. The kids were so excited and involved with the game. I would love to do this again!”
Melinda Spayde,bank teller from the Lexington Richland Bank branch added, ”Can’t tell you how much I enjoyed helping with the youth yesterday. I believe the kids, and myself found it very rewarding. Can’t wait to participate in this type of program again. Please keep me in mind for the next time. It was so nice to see them working together as a group and as an individual, in something that may effect their lives in the near future.”
“I am so lucky to be in the position of community outreach,”said Paramore, “I truly could not do this without the support of the local banks and the volunteers.”
Paramore summed up her thoughts on the project and what she believes is the positive impact on those who experience it, “It is my belief that a smarter financial community is a stronger community. Programs like Finances 101 and the cooperation of local financial institutions is the key to bringing that education to our youth.”
On October 15, high school students from North Western High School traveled to Bowling Green State to play the life-sized educational game and on November 6 the game and its volunteers will be at the State House in Columbus providing local students a tour and the opportunity to learn and play the game.
“Local banks are my best partners in educating about finances. I couldn’t do it with their support,”said Jenni Paramore, Community Outreach Education Coordinator for Directions Credit Union in Mansfield.
