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Desjardins Financial Education Award
CUNA's Center for Personal Finance created the Desjardins program to recognize leadership within the credit union movement on behalf of financial literacy for all ages. The recognition program considers all activities supporting the personal finance education of members and nonmembers, including, but not limited to, face-to-face teaching using proprietary materials and curricula such as the NEFE High School Financial Planning Program® (HSFPP) as well as financial literacy leadership efforts.
Naming the award after Alphonse Desjardins emphasizes the movement's long-time commitment to youth. Besides founding the first credit unions in Canada and the U.S., Desjardins pioneered youth savings clubs and in-school "banks," known as caisses scolaires.
Categories
Judges will evaluate state-level credit union youth and adult financial education award winners from each of the following five categories (assets as of 12/31/10):
- Chapters or credit union groups (all asset sizes)
- Credit unions with less than $50 million in assets
- Credit unions with between $50 million and $150 million in assets
- Credit unions with between$150 million and $500 million in assets
- Credit unions with more than $500 million in assets
Q:
Why did CUNA add adult financial education to the Desjardins recognition program?
A:
CUNA created the Desjardins Adult Financial Education Award in response to the growing awareness of the need for lifelong financial literacy and credit unions' leadership in that area.
Q:
What adult financial education activities are eligible?
A:
The Desjardins Adult Financial Education Award recognizes model credit union efforts to teach personal finance concepts and skills to members and nonmembers age 18 and older. Examples:
Q:
What youth financial education activities are eligible?
A:
The Desjardins Youth Financial Education Award recognizes model credit union efforts to teach personal finance concepts and skills to members and nonmembers under age 18. Examples:
Q:
Why did you remove in-school branches and financial literacy advocacy from the Desjardins award? How do I get recognition for these activities?
A:
This change was part of an overall strategy to more clearly define all of CUNA's recognition programs. Member service to youth through in-school branch operations is now eligible for recognition under the Louise Herring Philosophy-in-Action Member Service Award. (Credit unions' work with schools to teach personal finance in the classroom is still covered by the Desjardins Youth Financial Education Award program.)
Financial literacy advocacy is now eligible for recognition under the Dora Maxwell Social Responsibility Community Service Award.
The Alphonse Desjardins Award recognizes credit unions and chapters for their youth financial education efforts. It considers all activities supporting the personal finance education of young members and nonmembers. Almost any kind of activity that raises awareness and marshals resources on behalf of youth financial literacy is eligible. These include public relations, teacher and classroom volunteer training, advocacy, and coalition building. Featured activities must take place between May 2010 and May 2011.
Procedure
Submit a project binder or spiral bound notebook, along with the completed entry form and checklist to: Sharon Bahr, MCUA Marketing and Communications, 2055 Craigshire Street, St. Louis, MO 63146. Support materials should be included in the binder or notebook. Entries are due to MCUA by 5 p.m. on Friday, July 15.
For Credit Union Entries
- Entry Form for Credit Union Adult Financial Literacy
- Entry Form for Credit Union Youth Financial Literacy
- Checklist for Credit Union
- Tips for a Successful Entry
For Chapter/Group Entries
- Entry Form for Chapter/Group Adult Financial Literacy
- Entry Form for Chapter/Group Youth Financial Literacy
- Checklist for Chapter/Group
- Tips for a Successful Entry
For more information, e-mail Sharon Bahr.
