Press
Biz Kid$ Starter Kits Now Available from NCUF
Contact: Christopher Morris
608-231-4374 | cmorris@ncuf.coop
Madison, Wis. – Supporters of Biz Kid$ can now receive a new Biz Kid$ “starter kit” filled with DVDs and materials to teach Biz Kid$ to schools in their area. Biz Kid$ is the Emmy Award winning and credit union funded public television series that teaches kids about money management and entrepreneurship.
The new kits make it easy for credit unions to leverage Biz Kid$ to teach financial literacy concepts in a fun and engaging way,” said Danielle Brown, who is the National Credit Union Foundation’s new national coordinator for Biz Kid$. “Everything a volunteer needs is there – all you need are the students!”
Each Biz Kid$ starter kit includes:
- DVDs with five core Biz Kid$ episodes plus one 4-minute promotional DVD to introduce the series
- CD with PowerPoint training document and PDFs of the curriculum for the five episodes included
- “Guide for Success in the Classroom” training & tips document
- One stapled package of curriculum for one episode
- 40 Biz Kid$ pencils
- 40 Biz Kid$ stickers
The kits are available for a donation to the National Credit Union Foundation (NCUF) at a suggested level. Click here for the suggested donation levels and/or to make a donation to support Biz Kid$.
NCUF recently took ownership of fundraising, outreach and administrative responsibilities of Biz Kid$ from the Washington Credit Union Foundation to ensure the program gains the maximum support from the credit union system. NCUF is currently fundraising to achieve full funding for the fifth season, which will also put Biz Kid$ into syndication.
Biz Kid$ – Teaching Kids about Money & Business
Biz Kid$, which premiered in January 2008, quickly grew into a national phenomenon. It has aired on over 340 public television stations in all 50 states with a viewership reach of 271 million people. Biz Kid$ has the highest recorded carriage of any children’s program have ever released by American Public Television, with a viewing audience of more than 1.2 million per episode. The website is currently receiving more than 100,000 unique visitors a month hailing from about 140 countries.
Many credit unions leverage Biz Kid$ to teach financial education in schools in their community. In addition to NCUF’s starter kits, companion materials and other resources for teachers and parents are available at no cost on the Biz Kid$ website, www.bizkids.com. The site also features clips from the series and invites kids to appear on the show.
Biz Kid$ has continually garnered attention in and outside of the credit union industry. In its first four seasons, Biz Kid$ has garnered seven Emmy nominations—winning once in 2009—and rang the closing bell ceremonies at both the New York Stock Exchange and the NASDAQ Exchange for the past three years in conjunction with National Financial Literacy Month. In 2010, it also won the credit union industry’s most prestigious honor, the Herb Wegner Award for Outstanding Program.
Over the past six years, over 260 credit union system and affiliates have raised more than $10.4 million that has supported the show’s production, website and curriculum. Credit unions can get information on supporting Biz Kid$ at ncuf.coop>National Programs>Biz Kid$>Support Biz Kid$.
For more information about Biz Kid$, click here.
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About the National Credit Union Foundation (ncuf.coop):
The National Credit Union Foundation is the US credit union movement’s primary national philanthropic program provider, fundraiser and grant-maker. Through NCUF grants and programs, credit unions provide widespread financial education, create greater access to affordable financial services, and empower more consumers to save, build assets, and own homes.
NCUF is funded primarily by investments in the award-winning Community Investment Fund (CIF) and by generous Supporters led by the Credit Union National Association and CUNA Mutual. All NCUF donors provide support that empowers NCUF and state credit union foundations to make a real impact in the credit union community.
The National Credit Union Foundation is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charitable organization. NCUF 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.