FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

CONTACT: Lauren Williams – CUNA Communications; (202) 626-7642; lwilliams@cuna.coop                                                                     

Washington, D.C. (February 27, 2018) – Credit Union National Association (CUNA) and the National Credit Union Foundation (the Foundation) are impacting Washington, D.C. public schools by providing financial literacy materials to over 20,000 middle and high school students in the area.  

Contributions for the donation were received on behalf of the 5,000 credit union members traveling into town this week for the 2018 CUNA Governmental Affairs Conference (GAC). The GAC Giveback event is focused on the Emmy Award-winning financial education program Biz Kid$. The "edu-tainment" show teaches young adults personal finance and entrepreneurship and is exclusively funded by a coalition of credit unions, affiliates, and the Foundation. Attendees who donated towards the GAC Giveback event made it possible to put a DVD boxed set of Biz Kid$ in every public middle and high school in the district. Thus far, the Foundation has raised $40,000 in pledges.  

“We’re here in DC during GAC to advocate for credit unions,” said Gigi Hyland, Executive Director at the Foundation. “This year’s GAC Giveback does just that because it allows us as credit union volunteers, employees and system partners to showcase why credit unions are different than other financial institutions. Together as a system, we demonstrated that difference by providing Biz Kid$ -- a dynamic set of resources to help DC public middle and high school students build a secure financial future.” 

 On Wednesday, February 28, CUNA's President/CEO Jim Nussle and the Foundation's Executive Director Gigi Hyland will host a special presentation on the mainstage during the 2018 CUNA GAC. Biz Kid$ and 15-year-old entrepreneur Moziah Bridges took the Mainstage on Monday, February 25 for the opening session to introduce the GAC Giveback program. Bridges has received national acclaim for the success of his company Mo's Bows – an international bow tie company. His custom designs have been featured on Shark Tank and Bridges recently inked a sponsorship deal with the NBA.  

Produced by the creative team behind “Bill Nye the Science Guy,” Biz Kid$ takes a fun approach to financial literacy with comic sketches and antics that appeal to kids from late elementary through high school. Hosted by young people, the series teaches the importance of giving back to the community and the basics of smart money management. Moziah can be seen in Season Six of Biz Kid$ where he provides advice to kids on how to turn $100 into $1 million. He was onsite at GAC encouraging participants to support the Giveback event so more kids can become Biz Kid$ like himself.  

Visit NCUF.coop for more information about Biz Kid$ or stop by the Foundation’s booth #458 at the 2018 CUNA GAC for more information.  

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About the National Credit Union Foundation: 
The National Credit Union Foundation (the Foundation) is the charitable arm of the U.S. credit union movement and works as a catalyst to improve people’s financial lives through credit unions. Through grants and programs, the Foundation is strengthening financial well-being, igniting passion and instilling knowledge about the credit union difference, and uniting resources to help credit union people during disaster. Donations to the Foundation ultimately enable credit unions to help their members reach life-changing goals and achieve financial freedom. 
   
The National Credit Union Foundation is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charitable organization. The Foundation continues to earn the Better Business Bureau seal of approval as an “Accredited Charity” for meeting all 20 BBB Wise Giving Alliance Standards for national charities. 

 About CUNA:     

Credit Union National Association (CUNA) is the only national association that advocates on behalf of all of America’s credit unions, which are owned by 110 million consumer members. CUNA, along with its network of affiliated state credit union leagues, delivers unwavering advocacy, continuous professional growth and operational confidence to protect the best interests of all credit unions. For more information about CUNA, visit cuna.org.