CUNA News
  • LOG IN
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
  • LOG IN
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
  • Credit Union Magazine
    • Buyers' Guide
    • COVID-19
    • Digital Edition
    • Credit Union Hero
    • Credit Union Rock Star
    • Subscribe
    • Advertise
    • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Topics
    • Community Service
    • Compliance
    • Credit Union Hero
    • Credit Union Rock Star
    • Credit Union System
    • Directors
    • Human Resources
    • Leadership
    • Lending
    • Marketing
    • Operations
    • Policy & Issues
    • Sales & Service
    • Technology
  • Awards
    • Nominate Credit Union Hero
    • Nominate Credit Union Rock Star
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Jobs
  • Contact

News

Home » A touch of class
Community Service

A touch of class

Cherry Dale, a former teacher, has a passion for sharing her knowledge.

January 30, 2019
No Comments
Cherry Dale

The best educators have a passion for touching the lives of others. Cherry Dale, as financial education director at Virginia Credit Union (VACU) in Richmond, led her organization’s efforts in touching more than 27,000 lives in 2018.

Dale, a former kindergarten teacher, brings to her job not just a passion for reaching others, but also dedication, organization, and an inspirational work ethic.

The $3.6 billion asset credit union’s financial curriculum focuses on practical skills like setting and achieving savings goals, budgeting, preparing for home ownership.

One of Dale’s first projects at VACU was developing a financial education curriculum for local schools. The result was “Smart Start,” a six-lesson, train-the-teacher program that reached more than 2,500 students last year.

When the credit union introduced the program, there was no requirement to teach financial education at Virginia high schools. Dale created partnerships with local schools to distribute the program.

“I heard over and over from educators that they wanted something they could use immediately in the classroom,” she says. “Now, there is a financial education mandate, and we’re excited about that. The program is meant for teachers who don’t have a lot of background or experience in personal finance. They can easily apply it in the classroom.”

‘Financial education truly empowers people.’
Cherry Dale

VACU has applied a similar train-the-trainer concept at Virginia Commonwealth University, where it instructs students in the business school to counsel other students as part of the University 101 personal finance module. “We’ve seen that program grow as well,” Dale says.

Her four-person financial education team also educates adult members, whether it’s working with select employee groups or holding regular workshops at VACU facilities. Under her leadership, the annual reach of the credit union’s financial education program has quadrupled.

Dale also is active in the local community. Since 2013, she has chaired the Virginia Jump$tart Coalition, the state branch of the national organization that promotes personal financial literacy.

“I love Virginia Jump$tart because it's about the community working together to better the financial health of students,” she says. “It keeps me plugged into what’s happening in financial education.”

VACU also partners with parent-teacher associations at local schools to offer financial education classes and provides matching funds to encourage youth savings. Last year, 224 students saved more than $200,000 through this effort. “What’s great about this program is that it gets parents involved,” Dale says.

Dale even has a regular spot on a local TV station. Last year, she filmed about 20 financial educational segments with a local NBC affiliate. “We probably reach 50,000 people with each of those segments,” she says.

She finds inspiration in the fact that financial education truly empowers people. “No matter where you are in life and regardless of your income, it gives people tangible tools to empower themselves. That’s what the people-helping-people philosophy is all about, and that’s the core idea of what we do at Virginia Credit Union.”

KEYWORDS Credit Union Hero financial well-being

Post a comment to this article

Report Abusive Comment

Credit Union Magazine: Spring 2023

Spring 2023

Credit Union Magazine’s Spring 2023 issue features the 2023 Credit Union Heroes and examines CUNA-League advocacy priorities, board leadership, the impact of financial well-being efforts, fee-related compliance issues, predictions for the year ahead, and more.
Digital Edition •  Subscribe

Trending

  • CUNA Mascot Madness: See the West winner and vote for the South champ

  • Compliance: FinCEN issues BOI reporting guidance

  • Compliance: CUs must register with ACH Contact Registry

Tweets by CUNA_News

Polls

Mascot Madness Semifinal 2: Which mascot is your favorite?

View Results
More

Champion for the Credit Union Movement

Credit Union National Association is the most influential financial services trade association and the only national association that advocates on behalf of all of America's credit unions. We work tirelessly to protect your best interests in Washington and all 50 states. We fuel your professional growth at every level and champion the credit union story at every turn.

More CUNA

  • Membership
  • Contact Us
  • Careers

Resources for

  • Credit Union Advocates
  • Leagues
  • Press
  • Providers

Our Affiliates

  • American Association of Credit Union Leagues (AACUL)
  • Credit Union Awareness
  • Credit Union House
  • CUNA Strategic Services
  • National Credit Union Foundation
GET CUNA UPDATES
© 2023 Credit Union National Association | ADA Compliance Notice & Legal
Email Us