TCUF has announced it will launch National Financial Literacy Month in April with “Make The Difference,” a campaign to promote, celebrate and encourage financial education efforts among credit unions and their communities throughout Texas.  TCUF will use the month-long event as the springboard to encourage all credit unions to begin or expand their efforts to provide financial and consumer education to their members, local schools, and communities.  

The TCUF grants committee approved $10,000 to offer “Make The Difference” grants of up to $500 to credit unions and partner organizations to spur these activities.  These programs may include credit union-based programs or local partnerships with groups such as Junior Achievement, Boys & Girls Clubs, Y’s, churches and schools.  Please see the right sidebar for the official MTD grant application.

“We debuted the ‘Make The Difference’ campaign in 2009 and were amazed at the enthusiasm and collaboration among credit unions, chapters, partner organizations, and educators here in our Lone Star State,” said TCUF executive director, CUDE, Courtney Nickles.  “Credit unions are making a difference in their own communities every day, true to the philosophy of ‘people helping people.’  April presents the perfect opportunity to join forces, make the difference, and further strengthen financial education in Texas.”

TCUF is also working with its Project NEFE Network, a group of 215+ members who are implementing local financial education programs, offering National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE) High School Financial Planning Program (HSFPP) training sessions around the state, and serving as “champions” for financial literacy in their credit unions, schools and communities.  Last year, TCUF and Project NEFE Network members reached approximately 80,556 students through their financial literacy efforts.  

Finally, TCUF will track the activities, offering the chance for credit unions, partner organizations, and Project NEFE members that report their activities to win prizes and receive recognition.  “We not only want to encourage activities – we want to track our efforts, build our ‘best practices’ database to share information about programs that work and share this important information with our local legislators,” said TCUF associate director, Staci Zale. 

For more information about Make The Difference grants, contact Staci Zale at szale@tcul.coop, or (469) 385-6443.